DILWORTH, Minn. — Think how many times John DiFiore has put his tenor sax together for a music gig somewhere.
He’s played with some of America’s greatest bands, and for the last 50 years, he’s taught hundreds of students and performed at concerts and clubs around Fargo-Moorhead.
And on Wednesday night, Oct 15, there will be a chance to finally honor the contributions of jazz musician John DiFiore.
The Kicks Band will host a concert at 7:30 p.m. and will feature DiFiore at the TAK in Dilworth.
“Had this horn since 1956,” DiFiore said, taking out his tenor sax at Fargo’s Sidestreet, where he and jazz bands perform.
And what a career in music it’s been. This Italian from Queens, N.Y., who performed with some of the greats. Big names like Lee Castle and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Glenn Miller Band and more.
And he traded all that for a quieter life in Moorhead.
“In 1972, we moved here thinking it would be a good place to raise children. New York was just getting more difficult to live in for rent and things like that,” DiFiore said.
He would teach at area colleges and play jazz for the next 50 years.
“Jazz was always what I was really into. I got the chance to play jazz more in Fargo-Moorhead than New York,” DiFiore said.
DiFiore was often center stage with the big Fargo band, Mike and the Monsters. That tenor sax was unmistakable.
Tim Johnson and his Kicks Band will honor John for all his contributions to jazz and music education.
“To take that experience from a musician like that and have the younger musicians witness that and see how he handles himself on stage and hear the soulful sounds coming out of that instrument is just motivating and inspiring for everyone,” Johnson said.
DiFiore started playing sax as a teenager. He’s never stopped. He’s trained with some of the best in the country, played with the bigs and still can sit down in a downtown Fargo bar and make that tenor sax sing.
Kevin Wallevand has been a reporter at WDAY-TV since 1983. He is a native of Vining, Minnesota in Otter Tail County. His series and documentary work have brought him to Africa, Vietnam, Haiti, Kosovo, South America, Mongolia, Juarez,Mexico and the Middle East. He is an multiple Emmy and national Edward R. Murrow award recipient.
Reach Kevin at kwallevand@wday.com or 701-241-5317