Fred B. Banks Fred B. Banks, musician and director of the Grand Opera orchestra, was born in the city of Grand Rapids on the 24th of August, 1871. He received his educational training in the city schools, and graduating from the high school, entered upon a course of instruction in violin music under Prof. Lawson, one of the talented violinists 0f Grand Rapids. He remained with that gentleman one year and then became a student of Prof. Wilbur Force, under whose careful instruction he continued for six years, making raped progress in both theory and practice during that period, and a part of the time playing in the Grand Opera orchestra. Upon the retirement of Prof. Force, in 1896, Mr. Banks became leader of the orchestra, a position for which his talent well fitted him to fill, and which he has since retained to the satisfaction of every member of that superb organization. During the last three seasons Mr. Banks has played first horn in the Wurzburg band at the Pavilion, Reed’s Lake, a popular summer resort under the management of the Consolidated Street Railway company of Grand Rapids. On several occasions during the last few years he has appeared in the Schubert club of this city in their concerts, playing the viola, and he has also been importuned at different times to join traveling troupes touring the country, all of which he saw fit to decline. Mr. Banks comes of a musical family, his father, William H. Banks, being a musician of note, as are all members of his family. In 1891 William H. Banks organized a band composed entirely of members of his own family, and played the season at Harbor Point, a well known summer resort on Little Traverse bay, Lake Michigan. In the band the father played cornet, his wife, Mrs. Inez Banks, the tuba; Jean M., Norman M. and Alice played the alto horns; Elizabeth, B flat cornet, Roy W. Baritone, and William H. Banks, Jr. the drum. This organization, unique in its make-up, attracted much attention and, where it gave a concert, had large and appreciative audiences. While all are musicians of a high order, Fred B. Is the one member of the family whose fame has brought him into the prominent notice of the leading musical men and women of the state. As a citizen Mr. Banks is also popular, occupying a prominent place in the social as well as the musical world. He married November 5, 1895, at Paw Paw, Mich., to Miss Frances E. Thomas, the accomplished daughter of Frank C. Thomas, Esq. Of that place.

Transcriber: Barb Jones
Created: 14 August 2006