The Soundtrack of a Life
More than five decades after co-founding the Red Rose Jazz Band, Bluffer Joan Reynolds remains one of just two original members still performing with the group. As the band’s director and pianist, she continues sharing the music that has shaped nearly every chapter of her life. “Music affects us because it speaks to our emotions,” she says. “Whether we love it or hate it, we’re moved by it.” For Joan, that belief has never been confined to the stage. Music has been her lifelong companion by giving her confidence, opening doors she never expected and creating friendships that have lasted decades.
Her journey began in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and continued at Michigan State University, where she enrolled at just 16 years old. Like many freshmen, Joan was shy. After Sunday lunch, she’d wander over to the dormitory piano and play. Students were known to gather around, singing along while she remained happily behind the keys. “That way I didn’t have to talk to anyone,” she says with a laugh. What began as a way to avoid conversation became her way of connecting with people. Joan went on to teach elementary and junior high music, introducing generations of students to singing, guitar and recorder. Even after retiring from teaching in 1992, she wasn’t ready to step away from music. She spent the next 22 years directing the Sunshine Chorus, building friendships that continue today. After meeting members of France’s Hot Antic Jazz Band at a California jazz festival, the Red Rose Jazz Band received an invitation to perform at one of Europe’s largest jazz festivals in Marciac, France. That opportunity led to performances throughout Holland, Germany, Wales and England.
Today, Joan’s calendar is still full. In addition to performing with the Red Rose Jazz Band, she accompanies the Joyful Noise Chorus at Lake Forest Place and leads monthly sing-alongs featuring favorites from the 1920s through the 1960s. “I hope people that see us perform feel happy and relaxed,” she says. “Traditional jazz and ragtime make people smile.” Although arthritis has made playing more challenging, it hasn’t changed where Joan feels most at home. “I still realize I feel most confident when I sit in front of the piano keys.” That confidence is something she hopes others discover for themselves, no matter their age. “By all means, do it!” she says. “Never give up something you love. We are never too old to learn and begin something new.”