By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
When the Sweetwater All-Stars come to Decatur for a concert, as they will do Thursday for the next-to-last show in the Chamber’s Summer Concert Series, for one member of the band it’s always something of a “homecoming.”
Brett Kelsey, who blasts a mighty trumpet for the All-Stars, was born and raised in Fort Wayne, but he seemingly has as many relatives around here as a Baker or an Amstutz.
Or a Noll.
Brett’s mother, the late Thelma Noll Kelsey Alexander, was born in Pleasant Mills. She had 15 siblings!
His late father was Ned Kelsey. Marilyn Noll Young is his aunt and among cousins Brett can remember – “I’ve lost count of how many first cousins I have,” he will tell you – are Janelle Young, Keith Young, Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord, Elaine Rash, Kip Massoth and … well, he says there is a Sue but he can’t recall her last name.
Brett’s life has been all Fort Wayne – and music!
After Maplewood Elementary School, Kelsey moved on to Kekionga Middle School, and it was at the latter where he went to a musical instrument tryout session.
“All the students attending were able to try out different instruments to see if they would like to learn one,” Brett remembered. “I selected the trumpet. I don’t recall why but maybe because it was obnoxiously loud!”
He soon put the trumpet to use in the school’s concert and pep band.
Moving on to Elmhurst High School, Kelsey played in the orchestra, concert band, jazz band and marching band.
After a short stint at IUPU (now PFW) in Fort Wayne, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Music was still playing a major role in his life as, following boot camp, he attended the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia. After graduating, “they flew me to Honolulu, Hawaii, where I was stationed with the band at Marine Barracks Pearl Harbor,” Brett recalled.
After three years in the Marines, Brett says he worked several non-music-related jobs, “but have always continued playing in many local bands.”
In addition to playing with the Sweetwater All-Stars since their inception nearly 10 years ago – by the way, he’s employed at Sweetwater – Brett has his trumpet going with a trio known as the Primetime band and also with the Three Rivers Big Band.
All three bands play at least monthly at the Clyde Club Room in Fort Wayne, he noted.
So music has been a part of Brett Kelsey’s life for a long, long time, getting its start way back there in Pleasant Mills.
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