Bob Knox and his Blue Serenade Orchestra has been playing music of the 30s, 40s and 50s in the Columbia area since the band formed in 1999. Over the years they've played a variety of locations and events from the Fort Jackson Officers Club to a number of retirement communities.

Last month they played to a sell out crowd for a hangar dance in conjunction with the 67th Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders in Columbia. The band's backdrop for the dance was a B- 25 Bomber aircraft.

The band's musicians bring a wide range of experience to the 17 piece group that includes both jazz and concert band. They also have two vocalists: Toni Moore and Bob Borum.

Some of the band members have played professionally including a saxophone player who played with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. They are heavily influenced by the Glenn Miller style of music including Swing Music and Latin beats.

And, quite often when the Blue Serenade Orchestra is performing ballroom and swing dancers Richard Durlach and Breedlove will be performing.

Richard Durlach and Breedlove Photo by Molly Harrelson The band's leader, 71- year- old Bob Knox, has been playing trombone since he was 15 years old. He played for over 22 years in the 246th Army National Guard Band as a guardsman. He actually started his love affair with music on his newspaper route as a boy when one of the places he delivered to was a local radio station. He eventually became a disc jockey, and the rest is his-