The Kirk Dighton Band Welcomes 2 New Members

In June this year, we welcomed 2 new members to The Kirk Dighton Band.  Harry Ebbeson III, keys, guitar, bass and vocals, and David Bruce on drums.

Harry Ebbeson III is an accompished keyboard player having been classically trained and is able to play any style of music without a second thought.  He travelled for many years up and down the California coast backing up several well known artists at concerts and shows.  He is also the leader of a Contemporary Christian group called Heaven Wind Ministries and boasts 14 albums, all original songs that he has written over the years.  Heavenwind consists of Harry on keys and vocals, Dave Young on Vocals and Kirk also recently joined Heaven Wind on guitar in June. Check out the website at: http://www.myspace.com/heavenwindministries   Harry is a great asset to The Kirk Dighton Band and we welcome Harry and his family to our family.

David Bruce (AKA "The Master") is a  6^th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, 9^th Degree Black Belt in Joong Bong Sul (weapons) and a Black Belt in Modern Korean Sword Arts (KumDo / Kendo).  David has his own very successful Martial Arts School in Marion Iowa.  Dave has been playing drums since he was 4 years old and has quite an aggressive drumming style.  Master Bruce has added a tasteful and technical flair to The Kirk Dighton Band and we welcome him and his family to our family.  Check out his website at www.brucetkd.com    

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DAVE DIGHTON ANNOUNCES BAND REUNION SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 - A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Ballroom history came alive Sunday September 13, 2009 at the Ponderosa Ballroom in Walford Iowa.   The dance celebrated the Dave Dighton Band Reunion.  Many of the past members were able to be there including the original members of the band, Jim Wolfe, Jack Sexton, Duke Kasper and Joe Rettig.  Many other members who played over Dave's fifty-two years on the road also came and played, including: Mark Kelchen, Ron Johnson, Craig Davidson, Jerry Pollock, Kenny Burrows and Bob Daniels.  Kirk and Dave thrilled the crowd with twin trumpet rides and some good humor.

The band enjoyed their popularity enormously playing their special brand of western swing music in Iowa Ballrooms, including; “The Riviera”, Janesville “Electric Park Ballroom” Waterloo, “The Surf Ballroom”, Clear Lake “The Fairgrounds in Dubuque and Davenport, “The Prairiemoon Ballroom”, Prairieburg “DanceMor” Swisher ,“The Val Air Ballroom” West Des Moines ,“The Ponderosa Ballroom”, Walford, “The Coliseum”, Walcott, “The Col Ballroom”, Davenport, “The Armar Ballroom” in Marion.  In addition to the Iowa venues the band also played at;“The Medina Ballroom”, Hamel Minnesota, “The Bel Rae Ballroom”, Minneapolis Minnesota, and “The Fairgrounds” in Aledo Illinois.

In August of 2008, Dave Dighton was inducted in to the Iowa Midwest Country Music Hall of Fame for his dedication to entertaining thousands of people throughout his 52 years on the stage.  Another nice surprise was his son, Kirk and his band were also inducted the same year.  Kirk and his band took over the Dave Dighton Band when Dave retired January 1, 2001.

The new CDs of The Dave Dighton Band’s popular “Country Clover” album recorded in 1976, are now remastered and are available for $15.00 each.  Just shoot Kirk an email at digfam5@iowatelecom.net and make sure and put CD in the email title.  We'll be happy to send one to you.

Thanks to all of the fantastic musicians who were with The Dave Dighton Band for years and came and relived western swing ballroom history.  A special thanks to Connie and Paul Lewis, owners and operators of the Ponderosa Ballroom in Walford who were very gracious hosts and made this reunion an outstanding event.
Kirk
                Kirk and Dave -twin trumpets.......