Verne Byers

Vincent LeRoy Beyer (March 14, 1918, Denver, Colorado – December 19, 2008 in Las Cruces, New Mexico) known professionally as Verne Byers or Vern Byers, was an American jazz bandleader, double bassist, promoter, and nightclub owner. He brought The Beatles to Denver when they performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 26, 1964.[1]

Early years

Born and raised in Denver, he started playing piano at age nine but switched to double bass in middle school because there was more demand for it. He graduated from South High School, then attended the University of Denver for two years from 1939 to 1939. His transcripts under the name "Vernon LeRoy Beyer" show that he was a liberal arts major who enrolled in several journalism classes.[2] At the age of 19, he joined the Denver Musicians' Union. Before graduating from college, he joined the Merchant Marines (around 1939) and was a member of the Navy Concert Band during World War II.[3]

Career

Bandleader

Verne Byers & His Orchestra played compositions of World War II dance bands, including Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Tommy Dorsey. The orchestra toured the Midwest and Rocky Mountain area in the 1940s and 1950s as one of many territory bands, playing in dance halls, ballrooms, and hotels mostly in Colorado, New Mexico, Iowa, and Minnesota. The band often played at Elitch Gardens and once opened for Benny Goodman there. The band had twelve players. During the 1950s, bookings for the orchestra were handled by the Omaha office of National Orchestra Service.

At Danceland and at the Pagosa Springs Lions Club, the band was billed "Verne Byers and His CBS Orchestra – The Most Danceable Band in the Land".[4][5] Byers worked with Ted Fio Rito for a year and then toured with Herb Miller, Glenn's brother. He also played with Tommy Tucker, Teddy Powell, and Jan Garber.

Concert promoter

He produced a Beatles concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre August 26, 1964 — a 32-minute affair that stands as the group's only Denver appearance. As head of Lookout Mountain Attractions, Byers said he had never heard of the Beatles before booking them.[6] He also booked and promoted concerts by Peter, Paul & Mary, Otis Redding, Count Basie, James Brown, and Glen Campbell.

Nightclub owner

His father and a business partner purchased The Rainbow Ballroom, which Byers took over in 1947. He continued the policy of booking territory bands and name bands.[7] He owned Club Baja from 1960 to 1969. Byers operated the Thunderbird, a jazz dinner club on Lookout Mountain. He and a partner owned and operated the jazz club the Robin's Nest from 1957 to 1977. Kenny Burrell played there in 1972, along with Stanley Turrentine in 1973. Sarah Vaughan performed there, as did Stan Getz, Hank Crawford, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Mann, and Dave and Don Grusin.

Verne and his wife Jeanne moved to Las Vegas in 1983.[8] In Las Vegas, he hired high quality musicians willing to travel with his territory band. The swing band era was at a low, and major casinos were switching from live bands to taped music, which resulted in a musicians' strike. Interest in swing bands was waning. When traveling for territory bands waned, his orchestra played regularly in Las Vegas until his retirement.

Final years

Byers retired in 2002 and moved to Columbus, New Mexico.[9] He died in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on December 19, 2008, at the age of 90. At the time of his death, he had been married to Jeanne Byers for 58 years.

Bands and personnel
  • Verne Byers & His Bermuda Brass (1938)
  • Verne Byers & His Bermuda Brass (1972)
  • Verne Byers' Glenn Miller Revival (1980s)
  • Verne Byers & His Orchestra[10]

References
  1. Bill Husted, Meet the Beatles, The Denver Post, Dec. 28, 2008
  2. "Vernon LeRoy Beyer, Transcripts", University of Denver, 1937–38 & 1938–39
  3. "Obituary by Mark Brown, "Musician, club owner Byers brought The Beatles to Red Rocks'", Rocky Mountain News, December 25, 2008". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  4. Advertisement, Iowa City Press Citizen, p. 8, Col 5, April 22, 1955
  5. Pagosa Sun, Aug 29, 1952, Pagosa Springs, Colorado
  6. G. Brown, "Beatlemania Rocked City 25 Years Ago", The Denver Post, August, 28, 1989
  7. "Norton, Deyer Buy Rainbow at Denver", Billboard, p. 17, col. 1, Dec. 14, 1946 (the article misspells Beyer's surname "Deyer")
  8. Emily N. Bristol, "Byers Orchestra: Group Enjoys Sounds of World War II Era", The View (Las Vegas) August 31, 2001 Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Obituary: Byers", The Deming Headlight, December 30, 2008
  10. "Gary Massaro, "Ray Iverson's Sax Was Heard All Over Town", The Rocky Mountain News, May 20, 2006". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
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