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April 2008
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Mid-Life Crisis Band to play country club in Fairview for Valentine's dance Band knows how to knock the socks off of fans at regular gig in Fairview
It wasn't a concert. The four band members, Bob Cantin, Dennis Alexander, Bob Krenkel, and Dave Brewer, just felt like playing. Barbara Hixsey meandered into the room. "I'm not going to dance," she said. "I'm just in heaven listening." But moments later, during the first few notes of her favorite song – "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys – Ms. Hixsey took her shoes off and threw them in the air. "Heck with it," she said as she started dancing. "That song gets me going every time!" The Mid-Life Crisis Band has that kind of effect on fans. They play regularly at Heritage Ranch, the 1,150-home gated community where Mr. Cantin and Mr. Alexander are residents. Mr. Cantin, a professional accordionist who has played with greats like renowned conductor Lawrence Welk, started the band a year ago after moving from Phoenix. "I knew that I wouldn't be happy until I had a band," he said. "I've always been in one." At a performance of the Heritage Ranch Chorale, he met Mr. Alexander, a drummer, and asked him about starting a band. "We met and played a few songs," Mr. Alexander said. "From that point, I was in. We started talking about bringing other cats into the band." In their quest to find a saxophone and clarinet player, Mr. Alexander suggested Mr. Krenkel, a 40-year professional who plays in multiple bands in the D-FW area. The trio did a couple gigs. Although they had a song list, they kept getting a request from Ms. Hixsey for the song, "Elvira," which wasn't on it. "We have over 240 single ladies living here who take line-dancing lessons," she said. "We like to dance to 'Elvira.' " Mr. Krenkel knew of a bass guitar player who could also sing. Ironically, one of the songs he knew happened to be "Elvira." That musician was Mr. Brewer, with over 30 years of experience playing for greats like Henry Mancini. The band, now complete, agreed on the name Mid-Life Crisis Band. "None of us are going through a mid-life crisis," Mr. Brewer said. "Bob thought it was a catchy name and that it would grab people's attention." Jesse Young, director of the Heritage Ranch Chorale, which uses the band in productions, doesn't think they need a gimmick. "We use tracks for some of our performances, but there's no substitute for their music," he said. "They're that good." The Mid-Life Crisis Band stays booked during the year. The group's next performance will be a Valentine's dance at the country club. Betty Martin plans on attending with her husband, Don. "They're fabulous," she said. "How many bands have that many professionals in one group? They get us up and dancing every time."
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I've covered tons of A-list artists over the years and now at various celebrity and music industry events. Well, this little ol' band from Fairview ranks right up there with them in my book. They're the Mid-Life Crisis Band, and no, they're not going through one. They just thought it would be a catchy name. Here's a story that I did on them a few weeks ago. What I love about these guys is that they have over 150 years of professional experience between them and are out there still drawing the crowds. Just a great group of guys enjoying life through music!
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