windjammers

hall of fame
Paul Yoder (1908-1990), 1986 Inductee (WJU #270)
By Rod Everhart, WJU #1351

of the university faculty. As

a 6th grader, Paul began his
musical career taking lessons
on a drum pad. He excelled
as part of the Junior and
Senior High School bands and
orchestra. In 1924, he was
elected president of the high
school’s Class of 1926.

One of Paul’s early income-

producing enterprises was
playing drums in the local
theater orchestra … for silent films! He thought he had a
cool career on the horizon, until “talkies” were introduced
with the release of “The Jazz Singer” in October 1927.

Paul enrolled in the University of North Dakota and was

honored there by being named a Phi Beta Kappa scholar
and Valedictorian of his graduating class. He received his
BA degree from the University of North Dakota in 1930.
While he was heavily involved in music and was the student
conductor of the University’s band, his degree was in
Journalism. Years later, in 1958 the University conferred
upon him an honorary Doctor of Music degree. He also
studied at Vandercook College of Music and in 1941 he
received a Master of Music degree from Northwestern
For many of our Windjammers Unlimited members, the University in Evanston, Illinois.
name Paul Yoder is familiar, not because of any relationship
to the circus or circus music, but rather as the person whose Yoder’s first job out of college was playing percussion in the
name appeared as the arranger on so many of the pieces we Rochester (Minnesota) Park Band during the summer of
played in Junior and Senior High School. In fact, it would 1930, under Dr. Harold Cooke. The pay was $1 per concert.
be unlikely any band student in the United States between Cooke took young Yoder under his wing and gave him
the 1930s and the 1970s could have not experienced harmony lessons following the band rehearsals. Paul then
playing one of Yoder’s arrangements or compositions. taught instrumental music in the schools of West Aurora,
Windjammers members from the 1980s will also remember Illinois and Evansville, Indiana until 1936. He then realized
Paul as an active member of our organization, playing in more-playable school band arrangements and original works
the percussion section, conducting, and always providing were needed, so he moved to Chicago to become a full-time
anecdotes and humor. composer and arranger to fill that void.

Paul Van Buskirk Yoder was born October 8, 1908 in Paul Yoder’s first published piece for band had happened
Tacoma, Washington, to Albert Henry Yoder (1866-1940) and in 1933. It was a novelty number titled “Our Family Band,”
Susan Norton (Griggs) Yoder (1869-1953), both graduates published by Rubank. Over the course of his career, he
of the University of Indiana. Paul was the youngest of six wrote over 1,500 original compositions and arrangements
children and Paul always referred to himself as the baby and became known as the “Dean of American band
of the family. Early on, the family moved from Tacoma to composers.” He was also called the “father of bands” in
Grand Forks, North Dakota, where his father was a member Japan, and “America’s musical ambassador” for his work

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internationally. He composed and arranged with young young students – to giving everyone he came in contact with
bands as his primary focus. Likewise, he also developed encouragement and always a smile on his face and never a
several instrumental methods. Over time, he utilized nearly cross or mean word, but always a sharp barb or two for his
100 different publishers. His College Songs for School closest friends.”
Bands set sales records for many years.
One of Paul’s favorite stories was being in a hotel lobby
During World War II, Yoder was a member of the U.S. Army working on his notes prior to an ABA meeting, when Karl
Bands at Fort Slocum (New Rochelle) and Fort Hamilton King came over asking “What are you doing, Paul? Working
(Brooklyn) in New York. on your ad libs?”

In the January 1952 issue of The Instrumentalist, Paul was Paul always had a love for circus music. One of his closest
featured in their “Who’s Who in Music” feature. Included friends was Merle Evans. In a 1987 article about Merle in
was this comment: “Members of the ABA were needling him The Instrumentalist, Paul commented: “I became acquainted
about his rearrangement of the famous Sousa marches. with Merle Evans during the summer of 1962 at a music
One of the members leaned over and whispered: ‘Why do camp in Colorado. I remember telling him that if he would
you stick around and take all this criticism?’ To which Paul hire me just one time to play in a circus band, I would die a
replied: ‘I enjoy this meeting because here I am insulted by happy man.”
some of the very best men in the business.’”
Merle’s response was: “I’ve got a job for you. I’m going to
Paul had a great interest in preserving the heritage of band direct the Shrine Circus in Kansas City this Fall, and you can
music, including traditional circus music. He freely shared be the drummer.”
his talents, supporting a wide variety of band causes.
In 1963 and 1964, he was president of the American Excited, Paul continued: “Suddenly I was flying high. I put all
Bandmasters Association and was highly supportive of the my drums together and met Merle in Kansas City to do the
ABA Research Center at University of Maryland. That led job. The day before the show we rehearsed the cues and
to establishing the famed ABA Journal of Band Research. Merle told me where he wanted rolls and cymbal crashes
The Journal, published twice a year, is the world’s premiere and filled me in on what to watch for and what to do. ‘The
scholarly publication devoted to band music, band history, dancing horses don’t follow the music’, he told me. ‘You
and band methodology. From 1974 to 1982, Yoder was the have to watch the lead horse and keep the bass drum beat
visiting professor of music at Troy State University. in time with the animal’s rear end.’ That was the first time I
realized that dancing horses don’t follow the music. When
Windjammers Hall of Fame 1992 laureate James A. we did the show, I flubbed up a little the first time the dancing
Perkins had this to say about Paul: “Paul will always be horses appeared, but I had the time of my life.”
remembered for all his activities (such as at the Midwest
Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago), from guest Years later, in 1986 when he was awarded the Windjammers
conducting, introducing bands, directing the reading band, Hall of Fame honor, Paul placed his worker’s pass from
clowning around on the drums, exchanging his great stories, the 1962 Shriner’s gig in the corner of the Award, saying
hugging his friends, befriending new people -- especially “Playing for that circus was the biggest thrill of my life.”

After one of his many rehearsals as a

percussionist in the annual Windjammers
Convention Bands, Yoder in January
1983 casually mentioned to a new snare
drummer that he “played pretty well” for a
First of May and expressed the thought he
“had good possibilities.” During the next
break, Yoder learned the new drummer
was Buster Bailey, who had just completed
40 years with the New York Philharmonic
Orchestra.

At left, during the 11th Annual Windjammers

Unlimited Convention in 1983, Paul
Yoder is captured in this photo observing
percussionists Buster Bailey (playing
Red Floyd’s “Ringling” drum) and Ollie
Zinsmeister. On Euphonium is Mike
Montgomery, our current Secretary.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Bailey

Windjammers Unlimited - Circus Fanfare 2/1/2020 11

On occasion, Paul used the pseudonyms Max Thomas or Perpich. The Chatfield Lending Library currently includes
James A. Scott. But as Paul Yoder, over the years he was 639 tunes composed or arranged by Paul.
honored more times than can be counted.
Paul was married twice. On August 6, 1934, he married
The American School Band Directors Association awarded Maxine Fanny Thompson (1909-2011). They divorced and
him the Edwin Franko Goldman Medal. He received the she remarried in 1947. On August 2, 1948, Paul married
Medal of Honor from the Midwest Clinic International Band Roselyn A. (Niestraht) Pence (1911-1977). She had two
and Orchestra organization, the Distinguished Service children Dwight and Lynette. After Roselyn died in 1977,
Music Award from Kappa Kappa Psi, and the Academy Paul made his home with LThynette in Hendersonville, NC.
of Wind and Percussive Arts (AWAPA) Award from the
National Band Association, a group created by the editor It takes a lot of descriptors to summarize Paul, but leading
and founder of The Instrumentalist magazine. Paul was also ones are “gentle man” and “gentleman.” Others include
inducted into the National Band Association’s Hall of Fame of composer, arranger, clinician, historian, scholar, organizer,
Distinguished Band Conductors. joker, emcee, teacher, drummer, musician, adjudicator,
friend, humble, loveable, and storyteller.
In 1985, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded Paul the
Sudler Order of Merit. As his health began to deteriorate, Paul had two final
requests. He asked that a Dixieland band play at his
When Paul was invited to guest-direct ten of his favorite funeral. Second, he asked that in lieu of flowers, his friends
compositions with the Chatfield Brass Band on October 12, would donate to the musical organization of their choice
1983 to celebrate his 75th birthday and the 50th anniversary that he had either directed or belonged to – especially
of his first publication, the Governor of Minnesota declared ABA, Kappa Kappa Psi, Windjammers Unlimited, ACB, or
a statewide PAUL YODER DAY. Paul treasured the official Chatfield Lending Library. Paul Van Buskirk Yoder died April
proclamation certificate presented by Governor Rudy 4, 1990 in Hendersonville, NC and is buried next to Roselyn.

OLD PROS CIRCUS BAND in 1968

By Ron Keller, WJU #492 Reprinted from the August 2007 Circus Fanfare

This is the way I remember it. The phone rang on the Friday Waltz by Fred Jewell. Then, as Merle explained how each
after Thanksgiving in November 1968. number was used with the Circus, he said the next number
was a musicians’ number called Storming of El Caney by
I answered the phone and the voice on the other end said, Russell Alexander. I can tell you the tuba section really
“Ron, this is Paul Yoder.” At first I thought it was a joke, but nailed that one. So well so, Merle wanted to hear it a second
he continued, “We are putting together and all-star band for time!
Merle Evans at the Midwest Band Clinic in December and
we need one more tuba player. Would you like to play?” We followed that with Russian Circus March. Merle said he
brought that back from Russia when Ringling-Barnum went
“Wow,” I said, “you bet.” over the previous year. Many more selections followed
that Merle had used the previous season with the circus,
“The catch is the rehearsal is at 11:00 p.m. and will last until including Mambo Medey, a complete music show for the
12:30 a.m.. Do you have a problem with that?” Tiger Act, the Hugarian Medley, and then the Flying Act
which included Circus on Parade, Sunnyland Waltzes
“Nope”, I said. “I’ll be there.” When I walked into the and Go Galop. We then did Royal Decree by English,
rehearsal from the rear, the percussion section was set up Ragged Rosey by King, Quality Plus by Jewell and a special
to my right and there was a tuba player sitting next to the arrangement by Paul Yoder dedicated to Merle called Mr.
bass drum. He turned around and said to me, “Young man, Circus. The program ended with Sousa’s Stars & Stripes
you sit right here.” He pointed to the chair next to him. I sat Forever with the tubas playing the piccolo part!
down and that man on my right was none other than Bill Bell.
And on my left was Harvey Phillips! My thought was what It was the most exciting musical evening of my life and still
am I doing here? Well, I can tell you I never played better, ranks up there at the top!
for the first time the pressure was not on me as a first chair
player. [Editor’s note: Included in the band were these who became
WJU members at some point: Byron Autry, William “Boom-
We started with a Fanfare Merle had written, then began Boom” Browning, Ted Buenger, Floyd Cooley, Ronald Keller,
moving through the entire concert for the next evening. We and Paul Yoder. Also notable were William Bell, Harvey
played Old Glory Triumphant by Duble, A Country Shuffle Phillips and Roland Sherbundy, and many others that space
by Holmes, Dance of the Imps by Karl King, Crimson Petal doesn’t permit naming. ]

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