Tomorrow will be a concert at the Greene County Middle School gym featuring the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
Dick Oatts plays the saxophone and flute in the 16-piece band. He grew up in Jefferson after his family moved from Earlham so that his dad could teach music at the high school in the middle 1960’s. Along with his brother Jim and his two sisters Sue and Nancy, all of the Oatts children played musical instruments and have played professionally at some point in their lives.
After graduating high school, Dick attended one year of college at Drake University before he decided to be a professional musician. He started his career in Minneapolis and played all but five nights in six months. Oatts says in one year, he had more money than his dad had his entire teaching career. After five years of playing in various bands, Oatts caught his break to play with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra when his roommate told Thad Jones, one of the band’s founders, that Oatts was ready to move on.
Next thing Oatts knew, he was on a plane headed to New York to play with the band.
“At the end of the night, Thad (Jones) came up and he says, ‘do you have a passport?’ I said, ‘well what’s a passport?’ (Jones says) ‘Well you need a passport if you want to go to Europe.’ I said, “well what do you mean?’ He (Jones) says ‘Would you like to go to Europe with the band?’ I said, “yes.’ A week later I was playing at Carnegie Hall (in New York City).”
He adds that his dad was his inspiration to enjoy what he’s done his entire life.
“He couldn’t have been more happy. Because that’s what he was all about to train us to be able to do something when the time came to be able to rise to the occasion. It was as much his success as it was our success.”
Dick will also be joined by his siblings for a reunion concert. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 9th at 7pm. Tickets are still available at Home State Bank and The Printer’s Box. Prices range from $10 to $30. The concert is sponsored by Beta Tau Delta and all proceeds will benefit the Greene County Youth.