Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501230016
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For years, it belonged to Fred Corstaphney, band leader for the Freddie Lee Orchestra, which was the region's premiere big band for more than three decades. Corstaphney, whose middle name is Lee, took the name from his own.
Then, 10 years ago, Corstaphney retired from the band business and sold the Freddie Lee Orchestra - name, bandstands and all - to Dennis Reaser, his second trumpet player at the time. Reaser, who is band director at Salem High School, continued to operate the band as the Freddie Lee Orchestra for about a year.
Reaser then started using his own name for the band, billing it as the Dennis Reaser Orchestra formerly Freddie Lee, or, simply, the Dennis Reaser Orchestra, the name he most often uses today.
All was fine.
Until, that is, Corstaphney decided to come out of retirement and put together a band again. He planned to call the group the Freddie Lee Orchestra. He even had new bandstands made with the Freddie Lee name blazed across the front.
When Reaser found out about Corstaphney's plan, he objected, pointing out that he owns the Freddie Lee name. Reaser said any use of the Freddie Lee name by Corstaphney would be a breach of their contract.
Meanwhile, both men would like to perform with their bands at the April 29 reopening of the Hotel Roanoke, whose organizers haven't made a decision either way. But the dispute could end up hurting both of their chances.
They are now consulting their lawyers.
Reaser said the episode has put him in a particularly tough spot, because it looks as if he is trying to sabotage the popular Corstaphney's return to music, when all he really wants to do is protect his interests fairly .
"The Freddie Lee Orchestra is still in full swing and has never sounded better," he said.
Reaser wished Corstaphney had approached him about buying back the group. He said he thought Corstaphney never should have sold the band in the first place, and he extended an invitation to Corstaphney to stand in as a guest leader of the band any time.
Corstaphney said he would have considered buying back the band, but he didn't think Reaser would sell it. Now, with their lawyers involved and tension running high, Corstaphney said it is probably too late for that. So he plans to go ahead with his new band - whatever it is called.
He acknowledged it probably won't be the Freddie Lee Orchestra. It may be something like Sound of the Big Bands.
But, he said, he can always get new bandstands.
by CNB