Who remembers what a typewriter is? Does anyone use one nowadays? The Orcas Island Community Band does and even believes it is a musical instrument.

Joe Babcock will lead the Community Band in a special tribute to American Composer Leroy Anderson. This is the Centennial Celebration of Anderson’s life and musical career. In recognition of his contribution to American music and pop culture, the Band will perform many of his beloved tunes, like “The Typewriter, Syncopated Clock, Blue Tango, Waltzing Cat, Bugler’s Holiday” and his only song written specifically for bands – “Ticonderoga March.”

Leory Anderson studied at Harvard University and obtained a PhD in Languages (speaking eight different languages). He then composed music for the Boston Pops Orchestra for eight years, followed by a five-year stint with the Army in Military Intelligence. In the 1950s he composed a concerto and wrote for musical theatre.

Anderson gained great notoriety in the 1960s via television. Over the years, Leroy’s pieces have been employed as themes in both radio and television. In the early 50s, CBS-TV chose “The Syncopated Clock” as the theme for its new program, “The Late Show.” CBS used it for more than 25 years.” Plink, Plank, Plunk” was known to many in the 50s as the theme for the TV game show “I’ve Got a Secret”, and “The Typewriter” has become a favorite for a variety of radio news productions.

Mark Azzarra of the Waterbury Conn. newspaper, “The Republican” once said, “Leroy Anderson is considered by many to be one of America’s four greatest 20th century composers of instrumental music, alongside George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, and Charles Ives.”

The Orcas Island Community Band concert is by donation admission, Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orcas Center and presented in Partnership with the Orcas Center.Orcas Center.