The Old Columbia Brass Band was formed by Kenneth Brungess in 1976 as part of a special Bicentennial grant award offered by the Columbia State Historical Park and Columbia (CA.) College where Brungess was music instructor. In the spirit of our country's 200th anniversary, the Ostwald Band Uniform Company agreed to create exact replicas of the original 1860s era band uniform from photos Brungess had discovered at the Columbia Park Museum. This ensemble was made up of Columbia College students and fine local musicians who were interested in performing authentic music of the type played by bands that had inhabited the region during the Gold Rush.
The Old Columbia Brass Band performed for numerous civic and social celebrations both during and after the Bicentennial year, even making a "pilgrimage" to Yosemite to play a concert at the Visitor's Center, followed by recreating a historic photo taken by another of the early Columbia bands out in the valley meadow, with El Capitan and the falls in the background!
Unfortunately, the OCBB never made any recordings. However it continues to this day, performing in and around Columbia and Sonora in California's southern Motherlode region.
"New" Columbia Brass Band in Columbia State Park. ca. 1976
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