2025.06.26 THROW BACK THURSDAY - LRCHS SWING BAND REUNION TURNS 25
THROW BACK THURSDAY - LRCHS SWING BAND REUNION TURNS 25
PLUS CLASS NEWS
DREAMLAND BALLROOM, 9th Street, coming back to life thanks to the SBR!!!!
LITTLE ROCK, AR — On Friday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m., the historic Dreamland Ballroom will come alive once again with the sounds of classic jazz and swing, as Swing Band Reunion (SBR) takes the stage for a one-night-only celebration of music and history.
Thanks to Betty Chandler, Swing Band Reunion is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the modern extension of the outstanding 1956 Central High School Swing Band. The ensemble has performed throughout Central Arkansas, including at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, churches, retirement communities, and at the 2024 Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Check out the band at https://vimeo.com/user11251028/download/1094529651/2eb6648c9f Choose the second DOWNLOAD speed and then press the arrow.
This landmark performance marks the triumphant return of Big Band music to Dreamland Ballroom, a revered venue that hosted some of the greatest names in jazz and blues from the 1920s through the 1960s. After more than fifty years of silence, the echoes of legends like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Etta James, Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Jimmie Lunceford, and Arkansas’s own Louis Jordan will once again fill the air. Above is a picture of the Ballroom as it is today. It is on the second floor of the Flag and Banner store on 9th Street. There is ample parking and an elevator to take you to the Ballroom.
Join us as we honor the Swing Band Reunion and Dreamland’s extraordinary legacy so we can keep its musical spirit alive for a new generation. Tickets: $20. Locals, PLEASE consider coming. I know a lot of you don’t drive after dark, but maybe we can work around that if you will contact me. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.swingbandreunion.com/event-details/sbr-dreamland-ballroom-show. If you have problems, let me know.
Now for a personal note. I am trying to raise $1,000.00 to cover various expenses involved in this event that the Swing Band will have to absorb. If you are interested, please make all donations payable to SWING BAND REUNION and send them to me at:
Mary Lou Cabbiness 13815 Napoleon Road Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 343-3355
CLASS OF 1956 NEWS
Morris Lafayette Ison August 8, 1938 – June 18, 2025
It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of Morris Lafayette Ison, aged 86, on June 18, 2025. A proud member of the UA Pipefitters Union Local 155 for 67 years and a former member of the Army National Guard, Morris lived a life marked by dedication, quiet strength, and enduring love. Born on August 8, 1938, Morris spent his life building and serving — not just with his hands, but with his heart. He was a skilled tradesman, a loyal friend, and a man of deep character who found joy in life’s simple pleasures and the company of those he loved. Morris had a deep appreciation for the great outdoors — whether fishing, hunting, or just soaking up the quiet of nature, he felt most at peace under an open sky with a roaring fire nearby. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his beloved wife Ann, his parents, Edward and Ruby Shirley Ison and two brothers, Howard Ison and Allen Ison. He is survived by his loving sister, Carolyn Smith (Richard); six devoted nieces – Brenda Smith (Mike), Kim Smith , Kayla Anousakes (George), Karen Fraley (Shaun), Lisa Coulter (Sam) and Allison Phillips Webre (Andrew); three beloved nephews, Mark Ison (Amber), David Shelby (Betty) and Johnny Mullens; 13 great nieces and nephews, 16 great-great nieces and nephews, and a circle of extended family (including close cousins Billy Ison and Melvin Shirley) and friends who will deeply mourn his passing and carry forward his legacy of loyalty, craftsmanship, and quiet resilience. Every year, all of his extended family happily gathered at his wonderful cabin to celebrate the enduring meaning of family. If you knew Morris Ison, you knew his entire world was his beautiful wife, Ann, with whom he shared a lifelong bond that remained unshakable until his last breath. Those who knew him knew that his heart never stopped missing her. As the old song goes, He Stopped Loving Her Today. No truer statement can be made about Morris Ison. A heartfelt thank you to Jeanette Harris seems so inadequate for the loving care she provided to Morris during his illness. Her devotion enabled him to remain at home surrounded by loved ones. Without her, that would not have been possible and we are all eternally grateful for her care. We would also like to thank Arkansas Hospice for their unwavering dedication to their patients, especially our beloved uncle. Visitation will be at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills in Sherwood on Monday, June 23, 2025 from 5pm-7pm. A service in his honor will be held Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at First Pentecostal Church in NLR. Burial to follow at Blasingame Cemetery in El Paso.
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My husband told me his password is: MickeyMinnieGoofyDonaldPlutoHueyLouieDeweyDublin.
Because he was told his password had to contain 8 characters and at least one capital.
G.R.O.A.N. - I know!
ML