Larry Leafblad's Band to Entertain at Historical Society

Contributed by the Grayslake Historical Society 

It will be Grayslake reminisce music night on Sept. 18 at the Grayslake History Center and Museum when long-time Grayslake music fans, friends, relatives, the curious—and even groupies—are expected to attend a tribute performance by Larry Leafblad's The Scotch Lads band.

Leafblad said the free evening will be a glimpse of music from 1966. It will be a one-hour musical tribute to the late Dr. Gordon Falknor and Warren Brown—as well as Don Penfield and Bill Hall—all of whom were the original members of The Scotch Lads. Hall, formerly of Grayslake and now a resident of St. Augustine, FL, has promised to attend. The band will play and entertain at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18.

In 1963, 50 years ago, the four musicians played for the first time at the Parkway Foods Christmas party at Renwood Country Club. Leafblad recalled that he became involved with The Scotch Lads in 1966 when Hall asked him to sit in for Don Penfield for the St. Joseph Parish dance at Renwood.

The Scotch Lads era began. It was the musical attraction for years at the Grayslake Fire Department dances, the Grayslake American Legion dances, Grayslake parades of all kinds, hundreds of wedding receptions, backyard parties, homecoming dances and fundraisers at Renwood County Club, Brae Loch Country Club and the Country Squire restaurant.

From 1972 through 1976 The Scotch Lads provided night club entertainment at The Abbey Resort on Geneva Lake, The Country House in Antioch, McHenry Country Club, Holiday House in Fox Lake and the Sheraton in Waukegan. The band played at events from Chicago to Iowa to Milwaukee to Madison mostly for private parties. They were the featured attraction for Antioch's Cotillion fundraiser at the Arlington Park Hilton.

The group then went on a hiatus "We were out of business for about 10 years. But we were brought out of mothballs for my daughter's wedding," Leafblad said.  About two dozen musicians have made music with The Scotch Lads. The original motto was "Everybody Has A Good Time When The Scotch Lads Come To Town." "It's still true," Leadfblad said.

Today, the band is still playing about four shows a year and continues doing benefits. Is is now playing summer concerts and events and "we do great second wedding receptions," Leafblad said.

While with the U.S. Army bands Leafblad met two of the current players: Bob Schmidt and Ray Trusky. Today's players—Schmidt on keys and Jerry Kuta on bass—will join Leafblad and Bill Hall (the original drummer) in the Sept. 18 tribute to Falknor and Brown and the thank you to Grayslake.

Also, the 2013 Lads have Trusky on drums (who replaced Bill Hall in 1968) and John Vitale on guitar.

Today, The Scotch Lads are "a rock band with horns," Leafblad said. "And we're right up there with the Stones and Beatles in terms of longevity."

All five band members sing with Leafblad as the lead singer. "The first song I sang in public was I Left My Heart in San Francisco in 1966," he recalled.

Leafblad promises that at the tribute the band will play and sing such 60s and 70s hits as "Misty," "Melody of Love," "Bill Bailey," "Mac the Knife" and "The Waltz You Saved For Me," which was the theme song for the popular late-night host Franklyn McCormick on WGN Radio.

There will be a guest appearance by Joan Ottolino, former Grayslake High School music teacher, organist and keyboardist. There will also be a few stories told. Like how the late Grayslake mayor Ed Anderson always demanded the band play "The Tennessee Waltz" at the fire department dances and the band's brush with fame when opening for the Buddy Rich Orchestra in 1978 at Lost Valley Ski Lodge in Spring Grove and for Blood, Sweat and Tears in the summer of 2000 at Lamb's Farm in Libertyville.

This event hosted by the Grayslake Historical Society will start at 7 p.m. Weather permitting, the reminiscing will be in the courtyard of the Heritage Center. Otherwise, the concert will be in the Community Room of the Heritage Center.

—Submitted by the Grayslake Historical Society