When Jerry Ross responded to a newspaper ad asking for dance instructors, he didn’t anticipate that this move would lead him to starting one of the best party bands in the state.
The 12 member band that plays at the Hillsdale College President’s Ball every year has played for events that range from weddings to birthday parties to corporate cocktail shindigs in Orlando, but none of their events meet the same enthusiasm as a Hillsdale College party.
Sandee Singer, a senior event planner at Lorio Ross Sterling Entertainment who handles bookings, said the band always looks forward to playing their February gig at the college.
“This party is their favorite party of the year, and they do some high-end shows,” she said.
Jerry Ross started his music career at a young age and practiced it throughout his education. During his four years at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Ross focused on his instrument of choice, the clarinet. His dream was to play in a symphony orchestra.
When he was 16, a friend invited him to join a band with a few other buddies. Although Ross felt unsure about playing in a band as a classically trained clarinetist, he joined anyway.
During his college career, Ross continued to practice his music, but found a job through a newspaper clipping looking for dance instructors. No experience was necessary and the advertiser would pay for training.
Ross said that his time as dance instructor improved his music career tremendously. He loved the Latin rhythms in the Cha Cha, salsa, and rumba, and picked up the congos as another instrument.
“Being a dance instructor helped me a lot with my music,” he said. “When I first started out, a lot of the music was ballroom and I was probably the only band leader around who knew how to play the right tempos for ballroom dances like the Foxtrot and swing. It gave me a big edge on getting those kind of engagements.”
Eventually, the Jerry Ross Band grew in popularity and had more bookings than it knew what to do with. In order to handle the demand, Ross began an entertainment group that now owns several party bands. Ross said he still plays with his band for about 80 percent of the shows. His forte now is recruiting.
Ross found one of his star recruits, Stacey Mason, at a show where her original band was performing. When Ross invited Mason to his office, she anticipated that he would sign her band, but all Ross wanted was Mason. Shortly after the meeting, she joined the Jerry Ross Band and is now a co-leader of the band.
Mason grew up in Livonia, Michigan and was educated through the Livonia public school system. During high school, Mason played violin for the Youth Symphony, the Detroit Symphony’s Civic Youth Ensemble, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. She continued on to graduate from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance with a degree in violin performance.
In 1993, Mason charmed the audiences of the Miss America Pageant with her voice and violin as Miss Michigan. Shortly after the competition, Mason joined the Jerry Ross Band.
“This great opportunity gave me the confidence to do what I do now,” she said.
Mason’a mantra is going after experience and opportunity. While she balances leading the Jerry Ross Band, Mason also sings with the Michigan Opera Theater, plays violin with the Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony, the Dearborn Symphony, and the Michigan Philharmonic— not to mention teaching violin lessons.
Now, musicians come to Ross if they want to play in his band. When Ross reviews musicians for his team, he has a three-point checklist: looks, talent, and charisma.
“People hear with their eyes,” he said. “This is how the whole industry is. This goes for men and women. Also, if someone can sing but they don’t have personality, it takes away from their performance.”
Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn has voiced his admiration of the Jerry Ross Band for years.
“I noticed that they are very good,” Arnn said. “Then they started saying things to me about the college, and those things were worthy to hear. So we had them play at my daughter’s wedding and they were great. They tell me Hillsdale is much their favorite gig.”
Ross said that watching the Hillsdale students dance to swing music has always impressed him.
“As a dance instructor I could tell that a lot of students have had dance lessons,” he said.
Even from the stage, Mason and Ross agree that the environment Hillsdale students create is refreshing.
“We are so impressed with the conduct of students,” Mason said. “It’s so evident that the student body is so connected.”
The Jerry Ross Band will continue play at the President’s Ball on Feb. 7 next semester.
