to check out Show Me St. Louis's TV feature on Dwayne.
Early Adventures in Music—The Evansville Years
Dwayne Edward Estes (1963-?) started clamoring for piano lessons at the age of three, and finally—at the ripe old age of eight—got to start lessons at Don’s Music Center in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana. By the age of twelve he kicked off his career as a professional musician, landing a job as the calliope player aboard the steamboat Julia Belle Swain. Around that time, Dwayne got his first Glenn Miller album and fell in love with the big band sound.
If there was a music program at Reitz High School, Dwayne was in it—both instrumental and vocal. He played in the jazz ensemble, which was conducted by Larry Eifler, and accompanied various choirs including the concert choir, which was conducted by James Haygood. True to his independent spirit and constant need for cashola, Dwayne formed his first trio (aptly named The Dwayne Estes Trio) at age fifteen, playing many functions in and around Evansville with lifelong friends Rock Clouser on bass and John Hahn on drums.
After years of creative play in the song writing arena, seventeen-year-old Dwayne composed the song “We Like Mike” for Evansville mayoral candidate Michael Vandeveer, and Dwayne’s friend Ilene Deig wrote accompanying lyrics. Local singer Leann Phillips joined the trio to play Vandeveer’s theme song at several campaign rallies all over Evansville. After Vandeveer won the election the band was asked to play at the mayor’s inaugural ball between sets by the Al Colbine Orchestra. Leann later went on to sing with the Red Wick Orchestra and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Dwayne’s trio eventually included the likes of tenor saxophonist Robert Hormuth and vocalists Pam Matthews, Kerry Norvell and Cary McCool.
It was also at this time Dwayne began musical directing shows for the community theaters in town—first for the Repertory People of Evansville and later for Evansville Civic Theater. He also started playing at a private supper club called The Petroleum Club, where he filled in for Red Wick, the house pianist.
Mike Behymer, musical director at the Owensboro Executive Inn, called up one day and asked Dwayne to play and conduct the Phyllis Diller show with her Los Vegas style opening act, Mark Preston. Although a little nervous about rising to the occasion, Dwayne made sure the show went off without a hitch. Later that same year Behymer invited Dwayne to play and conduct for the Four Aces at the Evansville Executive Inn. Amazing experiences for a young musician and aspiring musical director.
Dwayne studied music at University of Evansville for a time, but felt the pull of Music City USA and left behind his hometown for the bright lights of Nashville.
Music City USA—Here I come!
In fall of 1984 Dwayne headed down to Nashville to start studying commercial music at Belmont College (now Belmont University). John Arnn, Director of Commercial Music at Belmont, hooked Dwayne up with the Bo Thorpe Orchestra to play one-nighters in the mid-South area. Dwayne also participated in many student recording projects, including rock, country, jazz and more.
While in Nashville, Dwayne forged many musical connections and reconnected with an old hometown contact, Jim Davenport, who had managed The Petroleum Club in Evansville and was now club manager at the Nashville City Club. Jim knew that Dwayne could corral the right musicians to play for the private club set, and offered to make them the house band at City Club. This was a great college job. Dwayne’s recruits included Doug Moffet on tenor sax, David Shirley on bass and Robert Mitchell on drums. Other partners-in-crime included vocalist Mellie Matula, guitarist Don Carr, tenor saxophonists James “Scoby” Dill and Paul Lamourex , and bassist Steve Whittaker.
Gettin’ His Chops Together & Learning the Score
In 1987 Dwayne moved on to St. Louis, where Webster University held his academic future and woodshed lessons. As a college student, Dwayne played many private parties and joined up with the Alteration Band, a local wedding band lead by Gordon Alt. Needing car money, Dwayne also took a position as organist and choir director at the First Presbyterian Church of Wood River, Illinois. By 1990 Dwayne had graduated with a Bachelors in Jazz Piano Performance, and joined up with a St. Louis cabaret group called “Memories,” which included Tamara Nashman, Lisa Campbell, and Jason Danieley, who went on to star in the Broadway musical, The Full Monte.
Dwayne had always wanted to work for Opryland USA in Nashville, and left St. Louis to do just that. He played and conducted the musical revue And the Winner Is…In 1993 the country group Alabama joined forces with Opryland to open a new theater in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where Dwayne went on to help prepare for its grand opening.
Once again returning to Webster University in St. Louis, Dwayne started work on his Masters in Music. He started playing with The Bob Kuban Brass, a local variety band that had a top 20 hit in 1966 with “The Cheater.” He also played piano and acted at a local theater called The Royal Dumpe, a popular musical comedy venue.
Who Turned Out the Lights?
In 1996, when he was almost finished with grad school, Dwayne suffered a detached retina in his only sighted eye and became suddenly and irreversibly legally blind. Becoming blind takes more than a little getting used to. But despite the obvious challenge it posed, Dwayne did complete his Masters in Music and went back to playing piano at private parties and at the St. Louis Country Club.
He formed a company called Some Fun Productions, which included the variety band Some Fun and the Dwayne Estes Trio, a jazz group.
The jazz trio (Brett Voelker on drums, Jay Hungerford on bass, and Dwayne on piano) released their first album, Blind Ambition, in 2006. It featured an original Monkesque blues composition by Estes called “Blind Ambition.” The album is available at CDBaby.com and on iTunes.
Dwayne was recently featured on Show Me St. Louis, a local interest show. Both groups continue to perform shows and play for events in the St. Louis area with an ever-growing following.
# # #