Twin brothers keep Alive Music Orchestra going – Times-Herald

Ad Blocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Almost everything could possibly be more substantial in Texas, but a person of the Lone Star state’s latest citizens has to admit that one particular of the largest Christmas Shows is in Vacaville.

He ought to know. He helped build it.

Truly, it was Keith Stout and his twin brother, Ken, who aided anchor the Alive Songs Orchestra 32 several years in the past, with the yearly “Home for Christmas” demonstrate starting off two yrs later on and remaining ongoing as a tribute to the outdated Bob Hope/Bing Crosby USO Tour exhibits and the veterans they entertained.

And even although Keith Stout relocated lately to Texas as a civilian architect at Randolph Air Drive Foundation, he’ll return to join the classic Christmas extravaganza Friday, Dec. 10, at Valley Church.

Driving Ken Stout’s way and sax actively playing, the AMO Orchestra’s presentation is “meant to remind folks that the holidays are a season of peace, relatives, and most importantly, the miraculous birth of Christ,” stated Keith Stout, AMO’s founder and trumpeter.

Keith Stout returns to the trumpet for the 30th once-a-year ‘Home for Christmas’ clearly show in Vacaville. (Contributed photograph)

Pastor Frank Salamone of Dixon Cornerstone Church additionally Leah Walker and Ken Stout’s 21-year-old daughter, Brette Stout, deal with vocal responsibilities, with area musicians doing preferred Xmas songs.

New music has normally been an integral portion of the Stout relatives, stated Keith, 59, 5 minutes youthful than Ken — while “he claims it is 5 years.”

Both equally exhibited musical capacity all the way back to kindergarten in the San Francisco University District, Keith mentioned, when “everyone would start out pounding on issues.”

Formal teaching, having said that, commenced in Albuquerque, N.M., when the twins had been in band collectively in the early 1970s with a father in the Air Force.

Ultimately, Ken Stout figured out alto, tenor and baritone saxophone when Keith gravitated to trumpet, flugelhorn “and some of the brass instruments.”

Neither brother plays guitar, but Keith’s 18-calendar year-aged son, Keaton, excels in the instrument, moreover trumpet and keyboard and is on a complete musical scholarship at Azusa Pacific in Southern California.

“I tried using to get him into architectural engineering but it did not consider,” Keith mentioned. “Our household is so musical-minded. He just naturally gravitated to audio.”

The Stouts’ mother grew up in the Philippines and their father in the states. They were usually a musical family members, Keith stated.

“We very a lot ended up specified a option — decide on an instrument,” he said. “Going by the faculty procedure, we performed in a lot of concert events. Vacations were being very active for us. And rising up, our parents viewed Television set demonstrates like the Bob Hope Christmas Distinctive and White Christmas with Bing Crosby. Every single night of the week, we’d enjoy Johnny Carson with Doc Severinsen. And, of class, we were being also affected by our new music teachers.”

New music, continued Keith, “kept the whole loved ones out of issues. Generating music together with pals and household was the most effective, especially throughout the holiday seasons and Christmas.”

Not to say the twins weren’t competitive. They had been, mentioned Keith, the two in new music and skateboarding back in their more youthful times.

Ultimately, Ken started his individual tunes company, providing it 20 decades afterwards to a former pupil. Now he’s the new AMO director, a title brother Keith after had.

“Spreading music all over the county,” Keith claimed. “That’s just one of the points we’re passionate about: instructing our youthful young children America’s new music.”

For the Xmas exhibit, it’s all about the genuine this means of the time, Keith stated.

“It’s what Christmas is all about — the start of Jesus — that’s essential,” he stated. “We get caught up with the business aspect, but it is not about Santa Claus and Frosty. It’s about the beginning of Christ To me, that’s significant.”

The Vaca Jazz Modern society presents the 30th Annual AMO Christmas Display, “Home for Xmas,” Friday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m., hosted by Valley Church in Vacaville, 5063 Maple Highway. Absolutely free admission. Love giving approved. For more, connect with (707) 448-7222.