Buns and All That Jazz!

Get Your Ragtime Fix at Tony Packo’s with Performances by The Cakewalkin’ Jass Band

There’s something special about Tony Packo’s. It’s not just the delicious hot dogs or the famous Hungarian sweet peppers. It’s the atmosphere - where friends and family can come together to relax and have a good time. One of the highlights of a visit to Tony Packo’s is seeing the Cakewalkin’ Jass Band. Known for their great music and festive spirit, the band always gets the crowd moving. Seeing them is a cherished tradition for many families that have created lifetime memories.

HOW IT STARTED

The Cakewalkin’ Jass Band (CJB) is Toledo’s oldest and most beloved New Orleans-style jazz band, formed in December 1967. After playing three short nightclub jobs and one wedding, the band opened for the first time at Tony Packo’s on Wednesday, July 3, 1968. This Dixieland group packed in the house every Friday and Saturday night as the regular band at the Hungarian-style restaurant for the next three decades.

Starting as a four-piece group with banjo, drums, piano, and clarinet, the band expanded after beginning at Tony Packo’s to include cornet, trombone, tuba, and string bass. The band’s size has ranged anywhere from four to eight people. The instrumentation consists of eight members: banjo, string bass, piano, cornet, clarinet, drums, trombone, and vocalist.

Eighty-two musicians—30 full-timers and 52 subs—have been part of the band since its inception. “When we were at Packo’s, our goal was not to convert people to New Orleans jazz, but to make them think about coming back,” said Ray Heitger, founder of the CWJB. “To me, jazz covers every human emotion. We got to see two generations of parents drag their kids to the restaurant kicking and screaming, only for the youngsters to find that Dixieland was a lot more appealing and fun than they originally thought.”

There have been about twelve funerals that the CJB has played for, including the late Tony Packo Sr.’s wife, Rose Packo, and her daughter, Nancy Packo Horvath. Two of these were in the true New Orleans tradition, with the up-tempo happy jazz after the burial following the somber dirges at the service.

HOW IT’S GOING

The Cakewalkin’ Jass Band recently celebrated its 50th year with a performance at one of their old haunts in Toledo, Ohio. Ray Heitger, founder of CJB and the last surviving member of the group, led the proceedings at the celebratory performance, which included taking literary license with the lyrics of the 1924 Clarence Williams tune - appropriately recognizing the achievements of the Cakewalkin’ Jass Band over the last 50 years.

The band has consistently been a presence in Toledo’s live music scene and surrounding areas and has built up a loyal following of fans over the years. The band’s performances are always energetic and exciting, ensuring their audiences have a great time.

With all this and an authentic New Orleans-style repertoire now at over 490 tunes, the Cakewalkin’ Jass Band has a bright, active future. The band’s love of the music and bringing its inherent happiness to an audience is infectious - as the thousands upon thousands of people who have seen and heard the band will attest.

MEET THE BAND

Ray Heitger (12/15/43)
Instruments: Clarinet, soprano saxophone, vocals
Heitger is a self-taught clarinetist who, to this day, plays strictly by ear. He formed his first band, the New Orleans Footwarmers, at 19 in his hometown of Beaver, Pennsylvania. He moved to Toledo, earning his Master’s degree in mathematics there in 1965, and organized the Cakewalkers two years later. He was a math teacher for 47 years and still subs at a local high school.

Dave Kosmyna (11/7/75)
Instruments: Cornet, vocals
Kosmyna, of Toledo, Ohio, became interested in music very early. While a student at the University of Toledo, he dreamt up Chuck Taylor & the Dixie Squid. He has since played with countless other groups and is currently the cornet player for the Climax Jazz Band in Toronto, Canada, and a quartet, NOPA. He teaches at Ohio Northern University.

Russ Damschroder (6/2/48)
Instruments: Trombone
Born in Elmore, Ohio, Damschroder started playing the trombone in fifth grade. When he’s not jamming with CJB, he also plays the Eb tuba with the Genoa American Legion Band. Damschroder is married to his wife, Debbie, and they have three children. He is a librarian at the University of Toledo.

Betsy Grafing (5/8/52)
Instruments: Banjo
A Toledo, Ohio native, Grafing started taking banjo lessons in January 1975. She started performing at Shakey’s in April 1975 with Ragtime Rick. Grafing also regularly performs at Ragtime Rick’s Second Edition with Rick. She is married to her husband, Rick, and has two children.

Buddy Lopez (10/17/62)
Instruments: Drums
Lopez was also born in Toledo, Ohio. He grew up playing drums in high school marching and concert bands. Around 1976, Lopez began playing with wedding bands, a show choir, a dance company, and musicals. He entered traditional jazz through the CJB in 1988. During the day, you can find him practicing his trade as an electrician.

Rick Grafing (5/4/52)
Instruments: Piano
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Grafing started playing the piano at around seven years old. In 1973, he started playing at Shakey’s Pizza in Toledo. From there, he played and managed the Shakey’s in Fort Wayne, Indiana, until 1979 and Olde Towne in Toledo. In 1981, Grafing opened his very own place, Ragtime Rick’s First Draught. Now, he runs Ragtime Rick’s Second Edition and is married to CJB’s banjo player, Betsy.

Bob Miller (10/13/48)
Instruments: String bass
Miller was born in Detroit, Michigan, and began playing guitar professionally at 14. As a man of many talents, Miller has played washboard, banjo, and string bass with the CJB. Miller is a professional musician and a tax preparer during the tax season.

Nicole Heitger (3/4/74)
Instruments: Vocals
Heitger was born in Toledo, Ohio, and has formal training in voice and ballet. She began singing with the CJB at about age 16. Heitger was featured with Tommy (tuba) Saunders’ band in Decatur 1993, and sings for weddings.