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Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Musicians Move Band To Nauvoo
Burlington IA Hawkeye 1Jun00 P2
By Stephen A. Martin: The Hawk Eye
NAUVOO, ILLINOIS -- The reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple has
brought more than construction to Nauvoo. Marty Quinn, his wife,
three sons and a collection of family friends all moved from Heber
City, Utah to the area in March. Now they are playing Dixieland jazz
as part of the Big Muddy Band. The group plans to purchase and
headline in their own excursion boat.
"Because of the LDS temple being built and all the changes, we wanted
to be here," Quinn said. For now the group will play wedding
receptions, festivals, school events and parties, just as they did in
Utah. Quinn owned a picture framing business in Heber City, but sold
the business to move to Nauvoo.
Through the Internet, the group has already found a suitable boat in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana."It's in pretty good condition," said band
member Scott Moore. "But it will need some renovation." Between gigs,
the band plans to get the boat into shape, and they hope to offer
daytime and evening excursions on the boat, including Dixieland
music, by next Memorial Day.
The group is based on the Quinn family band, which has been playing
jazz for 20 years, according to Quinn. Non-family members have joined
the band along the way. Pianist Celeste Moore started playing with
the Quinns while both she and her husband were studying at Utah
Valley State College. She says that moving to Nauvoo is quite an
adventure, "It's romantic," she said. "We couldn't pass it up."
But for the Moores, and many others in the band, music has been just
a hobby. Scott Moore quit his job as a clerk at a finance company to
come to Nauvoo. "What an opportunity to come out and play some music,
have an adventure," he said.
In addition to events in the Nauvoo area, the band is seeking jobs
playing on excursion boats in other places, such as Hannibal,
Missouri. The group plans to stay in Nauvoo until October, then
return to Utah for the winter. They will return in March to get the
boat ready and start the cruising season in May.
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