A Knight’s Tale: Musical group celebrates anniversary

History books chronicle events with words. Musicians on the other hand, tell the story of time in song.

This weekend the Auburn Knights Orchestra will write another chapter in their musical history as they celebrater their 78th anniversary event in Opelika.

Art Depew, trumpet player and former leader of the Harry James Band, will come from California to perform with the 1930s band for the event. Depew and his daughter, a professional singer, will also perform a duet.

The Auburn Knights original dance band was formed in the 1930s, and since its inception, has had hundreds of Auburn University students play in its ranks and boasts former members like Toni Tennille of The Captain and Tennille, Dave Edwards of the Lawrence Welk Show and New York musical star Jon Smith.

As members would graduate and move on from the AKO, new members would audition to fill vacant spaces in the big band group.

“Part of the reason the AKO has been such an enduring Auburn tradition is that the group has always had terrific musical competition for spots, so only the best musicians were selected to play in it,” said Hank Elliott, former AKO member who played trombone and served as a business manager for the big band ensemble in the 1950s.

Many of the current AKO members also perform with the AU Marching Band and other musical endeavors, according to Elliott.

The unique big band sound of the AKO is one Elliott thinks has thrived over the years for a number of reasons.

“The songs you’ll hear the AKO play, really challenge the musician’s talents and abilities but have an enduring melody that has stuck with listeners over the years,” said Elliott, an AU alum.

The current AKO is comprised of about 20 musicians and vocalists and when they perform this weekend they will share the stage with seven alumni AKO bands from various eras.