Rising Sun, Horizon, Jackson Junction and Deep River bands reunite this Friday in Waukon to benefit Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation
Reuniting to benefit Veterans Memorial Healthcare Foundation ... Original members of the four local bands Rising Sun, Horizon, Jackson Junction and Deep River will be reuniting as “Bandmates, Brothers and Friends” this Friday evening, May 12 from 6-10 p.m. at Goodfella’s in downtown Waukon. These four bands played all across the tri-state area, but most often locally at the Waukon Opera House and the Drawing Board, Old Rossville Store, Dreamland Ballroom in Postville, Decorah’s Knob Hill and Matter’s Ballroom and the Burr Oak Dance Hall. Pictured below are the members of Jackson Junction on the deck of the Withers boys’ late grandmother, Eloise Hale. Left to right are Bill Withers, Jim Withers, Keel Clemmens, Eloise Hale and Todd Pickett. Above in the present day picture, left to right, are other band members Gary Hesla, Jim Withers, Bill Withers, Joel Anderson and Bob Bechtel. All proceeds donated at this Mother’s Day Weekend event will benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. Submitted photos.
This Friday, May 12, the original members of four local bands will be reuniting as “Bandmates, Brothers and Friends” from 6-10 p.m. at Goodfella’s in downtown Waukon. This benefit event features a reunion of 11 musicians from the local bands Rising Sun, Horizon, Jackson Junction and Deep River, sharing songs from the 1950s through the 1990s, both country and rock.
These four bands played all across the Midwest, but most often locally at the Waukon Opera House and the Drawing Board, Old Rossville Store, Dreamland Ballroom in Postville, Decorah’s Knob Hill and Matter’s Ballroom, and the Burr Oak Dance Hall.
Many of the returning musicians are from Waukon including brothers Bill Withers, Jim Withers and John Withers, along with Gary Hesla, Bob Bechtel, Dave Dougherty, Brad Prestemon, Todd Pickett and Joel Anderson. They will be joined by Keel Clemmens and Jamey Lideen, longtime band members over the years. Of the original 12 musicians, the late Pat Dougherty, will also be remembered during the event, with his brother, Dave, joining the band at times throughout the evening.
These returning musicians are driving and even flying great distances for this reunion. Many of them share their excitement for this event in the quotes below:
“I remember many a weekend morning, sitting with my Granny Eloise, listening to my older brothers recount the previous night’s ‘gig’. She loved hearing the stories; and 25 years later, I was creating my own memories with the band. This will be an event to remember for sure!”~John Withers
“Every time we come back to northeast Iowa, I annoy my wife by pointing out all of the places in all of the little towns we’ve played in!”~Jim Withers
“I was fortunate to have been a member of a couple of renditions of the bands. These guys are some of the best friends of my life and I’m looking forward to getting together and raising money for a great cause.” ~Brad Prestemon
”A lot of memories dating back to 1980 when I played for the first time with Rising Sun at the Opera House! Great guys to play music with over the years. Looking forward to seeing everyone again!!”~Gary Hesla
“The five years I spent with these guys were some of the best times of my life. Since 1984, I have only been able to perform with them about four or five times. I am really excited to be with them all again. I am also proud that we were able to have this event in conjunction with an organization such as Waukon’s Veterans Memorial Hospital.”~Todd Pickett
“Our grandmother, Eloise Hale, mother to our mom, Libby Withers, hosted bands overnight when touring through. We all stayed out at her farm, Halewood, and she always had cold beer and food for us! She and her husband owned Hale’s Store downtown for many years. Grandma Eloise often stayed up late to attend dances for the first hour or two… she was one of our biggest fans.”~Bill Withers, Jr.
Free-will donations will be accepted at the door the evening of the event and online prior to, during or after the event at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com, by clicking on the ‘donate’ button at the top of the page. PayPal, debit and credit cards are all accepted. All proceeds will benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.
