The Jericho Brass

Chattanooga, TN

Jericho Brass History (adapted from the original history by  Skip Houck)

The Jericho Brass began as a result of the inspiration of two individuals. The first, Bill Kinnaman, a free lance engineer who has lived and worked in the Chattanooga area for many years. Bill has always had a love for brass music and in particular for his chosen instrument, the euphonium (sometimes called the baritone horn). For many summers bill would journey to England where he would attend a British band camp. There he had the opportunity to play his euphonium along with the world's finest musicians. Bill became acquainted with some of the great factory and mining bands in the British Isles, where hundreds of amateur bands thrive under the sponsorship of mining companies, civic organizations, textile mills, and townships.

The second "Godfather" of the Jericho Brass was Major Otis Street, a retired officer of The Salvation Army and a Chattanooga resident. Major Street played the tuba and was thoroughly immersed in the brass band tradition that The Salvation Army has preserved in this country.  Otis and Bill became acquainted through the Sunday services at The Salvation Army Citadel, where brass music is a part of virtually every service. For years they discussed the possibility of forming a community brass band.

In May of 1998, Bill and Otis put out the call.  It was time for Chattanooga to "jump on the band wagon!" The first rehearsal included a sampling of professional and semiprofessional players;  some "over-the-hill" and “used-to-be" brass players; several fine high school and college players: and others curious about what a genuine British brass band might sound like. After several practice sessions, it was obvious that the group had exciting potential. It was time to select a name. Considering several possibilities, the group settled on Jericho Brass. The name was inspired by the Old Testament account of Joshua's army, who blew their "lamb ram sheep horns" and caused the massive and unassailable walls of the city of Jericho to come crashing down.

Jericho Brass began with the initial tentative programs played in the friendly and supportive confines of the Citadel and grew to include performances at Miller Park, Rock City and even merry ‘ol England. Many excellent musicians have joined the group performing everything from hymns to pop tunes and all things between.

There was a time in America when a local brass band was virtually the sole source of entertainment in many communities. It is estimated that in 1900, there were over 75,000 brass bands in the United States. Bandsmen like John Philip Sousa, Carl King, Herbert Clark, and Henry Filmore were widely known and recognized, as they were the "rock stars" of their day. Brass bands were sponsored by newspapers, distilleries, police and fire departments, cotton mills, DAR groups, and Temperance Unions. From the Sears and Roebuck catalog, one could purchase a complete set of instruments and  two dozen crowd pleasing arrangements  for $225 (or about the cost of one used instrument  today). The Jericho Brass pays homage to this great tradition. It strives to faithfully participate in and to help advance the current resurgence of brass banding in the USA.

Major Street was promoted to Glory in October 2005. His legacy still remains in the commitment to music and the camaraderie of bandsmen that is the Jericho Brass.