Village Idiot Pub

Actually we went to the place across the Street from the Village Idiot, Marge's Sports Bar and Grill. I took a photo of the Pub for pure nostalgia, as it was one of mother's (ever the wit)nicknames for me as a young child. See how I've matured?
Instead of 8 classmates, our group morphed into 3 tables of 16 people. We laughed and laughed, I'm not sure what about as I could barely hear a thing, even before Tom Saunders and the Detroit All Stars began playing. Like the rest of us, Tom looked older than last we saw him, 7 years ago. He'd had a stroke, but it has had no effect on his playing, which was amazing. I met his lady, Judy. The room was full of Judys. It will be easier to recognize people tonight when we all wear our high school photos (I hate mine and I did not get the memo about wearing pearls). Someone said I look just the same, probably not a complement! I sat next to dear friend Julie, pals since earliest grade school when we were performing the hula to "Little Brown Gal in Hawaii" and racing about between houses. Across from me was Diane, one of the prime organizers and the most hilarious person in the world, Judy Latimer and Judy Hutchison, who was a major pal in high school and had just flown in from Boulder. Behind me was Janice, another organizer and the person who exclaimed on the list "Just you wait, Toni Myers, just you wait!" re my health care views. We are now reunion friends and Janice, if by chance you read this, vive la difference!


Cornetist Tom Saunders (b. Detroit 1938) has been the leading figure of Detroit’s dixieland (or “traditional jazz”) scene for forty years. In 1962, after playing jazz around Detroit on a part time basis, and having returned from a three-year stint in the US Navy, Saunders quit his job to go on tour with Pee Wee Hunt. Tom has been playing full time ever since. He remains one of the few performers, anywhere, to continue to play authentic Dixieland jazz successfully as a full time performer.

In the 1960’s Tom Saunders’ Surf Side Six became one of Detroit’s most popular bands…initially at the Surfside Lounge on East Jefferson, then later at the Dearborn Towne House and finally for a 12 year run at the Presidential Inn, playing six nights a week with a six piece band. During this period Tom took periodic time out to travel, performing on occasions with such greats as Eddie Condon, Ralph Sutton, Bobby Hackett, Arvell Shaw, Herb Hall, Claude Hokins, Peanuts Hucko and others.

Saunders’ “hot/swing style” is a personal jazz sound, but his strongest influence came from his friend, mentor and early performing partner, the legacy 1920’s cornetist Wild Bill Davison