Herb Roesener created the Montebello High School Esquires in 1949 as a classroom and extracurricular program. Herb was the Instrumental Music Director/Teacher at the school from 1949 to 1966 and developed many fine musicians, including most of the members of the Alumni Esquires. He also started what has become a continuing award winning concert and marching band program in southern California. Herb Roesener passed away peacefully on August 11, 2010 at the age of 88. We’ll miss him.

The Esquires played high school and college dances from Pasadena to Long Beach to Ontario, as well as proms, holiday and private parties and for KTLA-TV, KABC, and KCET. For all their efforts, Mr. Roesener paid the original band members $3.00 a night, until one of the players convinced him to raise it to $5.00 a night.

This program was continued by current Esquire trombonist and 1968 MHS graduate, Larry Covellone, who was the school's band director for 31 years until he retired in 2005. Larry, unfortunately, had to disband the Esquires in 1984 because of budget pressures, changes to music programs everywhere and increased emphasis on academic electives. Some of Larry’s students have played with us as well.

The MHS Alumni Esquires were started in 2000 when Rich Abreau organized several former members to provide the entertainment for the 45th class reunion of the class of 1955 (Jim Duron, Gary Tavis, Fred Green and Bob Ralston). Rich continues today as the leader and the lead alto player. We started out playing the same music charts that we played in the 50s and, gradually, have acquired additional more sophisticated arrangements of the same songs and more.

Today, we focus our attention on a few of the well known arrangers of big band music for our charts. We, in effect, can be 5 different bands. The band has recorded ten CDs and re-mastered a 1955 LP recording of the original 1955 band. The names of the players are on the back of each cover.

The early recordings were made to support the Montebello High School Band program. With formation of the Montebello High School Alumni Association in 2004, The Esquires established and support the Annual Teacher Recognition Award at the school through providing the CDs to give to people donating to the MHSAA's award fund. The award was dedicated to the teachers in the band (Herb Roesener, Glen Johnston, Gary Tavis, Larry Covellone). With the passing of Mr. Roesener, the Esquires requested the Alumni Association to rename the award “The Herb Roesener Memorial Teacher Recognition Award”. See Montebello High School Alumni Association.

The band also plays for the Association’s Annual Meeting and is available to play for gigs for other events. Part of the fee paid for gigs is contributed to the award fund and school band program. See Booking. We're proud to provide you with big band music for your pleasure. We enjoy what we are doing, and we hope you will share that joy with us. See Music.

 

Dedicated to Herb Roesener

1922-2010

Our founder and inspiration. 

With thanks, love and respect.