presents one of our “related bands” —
Knights of the Blue Fesque
Their story, as recalled by Leo Eilts:
The original Knights of the Blue Fesque were me, Roger, Carl Anderton, Jeff
Elsloo and Bruce Graybill. It was originally organized for a one-time
appearance at a fund raiser for an arts program for children call Camelot
Academy. Both Jeff's daughter, Britaney, and Roger's daughter, Mariah, have
attended it. The band was so much fun that we kept it together for quite a
while. At the one performance in Winfield, Jamey Logan filled in for . .
.someone. I can't remember who. I think it was Bruce. The band
specialized in Big Band, swing and novelty tunes from the 30s-40s. We used
charts from Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and the Dorsey Brothers,
re-arranged the charts for string instruments (which were originally written
for brass and woodwinds) and had a flashy little ensemble that worked
together for about a year and a half. We always wore tuxedo shirts and
vests, black slacks.
Bruce Graybill eventually dropped out of the Fesque, but Jeff Elsloo, Carl Anderton and I(Leo) continued to work together in a group that had several different identities of its
own. We auditioned for work at the new Station Casino as "Streetscape"
entertainers. By swapping instruments and personnel, we were able to
perform as
The group(s), which always performed
as a four-piece, variously included bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle,
accordion (both diatonic and piano-style), dobro, and other various
instruments. Besides me (Leo), Carl and Jeff, the group included a fiddle player
named Bill Allen, a gentleman named Doug Goodhart who played fiddle and
accordion and sang in French, Jamey Logan who played fiddle, guitar and
mandolin, and others. I often played guitar is this group, and Roger sat in
a couple of times.
In the late 80s-early 90s, Roger and I (Leo) organized a little show called the
Prairie Gators. It started out as just him and me and a small
midi-controlled drum machine and effects generators. I played electric bass
guitar. Eventually, Bruce Graybill joined us, playing an electric
four-string Fender mandolin called the "Mando-caster". We did mostly
ballads and some covers of Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison tunes (Blue Bayou,
Pretty Woman) Everly Brothers, stuff like that. More electric than the
stuff we usually do.
I (Leo) have also worked with several other groups who have asked be to play bass
for various appearances. One of these was called Possum Nation, which Jeff
also sat in with. Possum Nation is the brain child of Cotton Sivils and
Roger (Tater) Talbot, two old friends from Rich Hill, Missouri. Jeff and I
have played with them half a dozen times.
Finally, Carl and I (Leo) were also in another group together for a while during
'92-93. The band was called Haywire and also included Jeff Elsloo's brother
Doug on mandolin and a guitar player and lead singer named Brent Fuqua.
Brent was my partner in the first bluegrass festival I got involved in, the
Boulevard Bluegrass Revival. We were featured on three songs on the album
that came out of that festival.
and, in church settings at Christmas, as