Photo by Jim Tate Members of the Route 66 Big Band held a practice recently in preparation of the Feb. 11 Moonlight Serenade Dance.

MINNEOTA — “I’ll keep playing as long as they will have me.”

That’s was Minneota farmer Neal Bot’s humorous reply to a question about his longevity with the Route 68 Big Band. He’s the lone original member of the group since its 1985 inception, having been recruited by its original director, the late Rich Novotny, when it was called the Minneota Jazz Band.

Bot, along with Route 68 Big Band director John Voit, band member Ross Anderson, and the rest of the ensemble, have been preparing for the upcoming Moonlight Serenade Dance, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 11 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Minneota American Legion.

The dance takes the place of what was formerly The Chocolate Affair, a dinner-dance fundraiser put on by the Friends of the Minneota Library. The Route 68 group has this year assumed organizational duties to go along with their musical commitment, and they’re looking forward to playing together again, something of a rarity in recent years due to COVID-related circumstances.

“We played in February of 2020, right before COVID,” said Anderson. “Then last summer we played on consecutive days in Canby and Appleton. We haven’t played since.”

The group consists of 22 active members and plays big-band music from the ’30s and ’40s (think Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, etc.) and performs “five or six times” per year, said Anderson. They have been rehearsing at Minneota High School, usually on Monday evenings, leading up to the Moonlight Serenade Dance.

Voit has been director since 1991, when he became band director at Minneota High School. He’s been active in the area music scene in several capacities over the years, such as the Marshall Community Band, directing orchestras for musicals, and occasionally playing tuba with the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, when that instrument is needed. Like so many dedicated area musicians, “you help out back and forth when you live in a small town,” he said.

Anderson, a talented saxophone and clarinet player, is a familiar area musician, perhaps best known as half of the Jazz with Ross & Pete (Lothringer) duo, which has played so many area gigs since becoming a duo in 2004. He’s a member of many groups, including the SMSU Community/Concert Band and the Marshall Municipal Band, among others. Music is his life, and if he is asked to play, “I’ll be there,” he said.

He describes the Route 68 Big Band as a collection of “semi-professional” musicians.

“The group is something of a rarity these days,” he said. “Today these groups are connected to schools.”

Bot plays the trombone and said he enjoys being a part of the group.

“I like the variety. It’s an interest that adds to other things I do. It’s fun to associate with these talented musicians.” He’s the longest-tenured participant, having been with the group since the beginning, or, he said, “for at least three shirts,” he quipped.

Voit is the one who suggested the name change, from Minneota Jazz Band to Route 68 Big Band, about 15 years ago.

“It’s a play on the ‘Route 66’ song and (television) show,” he said. “At the time, I think we only had a couple of members who didn’t live along Highway 68.”

The Moonlight Serenade Dance will also feature vocalists Paula Dovre and Chris Shuckhart, as well as strictly instrumental pieces. The band has a repertoire of over 100 songs from which to choose.

Cost is $10, and doors open at 7 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Voit. “We hope that it’s a good show and that people come out to enjoy an evening of big band music they can’t otherwise enjoy in southwest Minnesota.”