Band Bios

Robert (Bob) Fox Director/Trumpet

Bob, like most musicians, started playing music in fourth grade. He played trumpet through college, and was a Music Education major at Pepperdine University before changing his major to Political Science.

Since college he has conducted and led church vocal ensembles and played trumpet in several groups, including the First Evangelical Free Church, Fullerton Orchestra and other ensembles, the Praise Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Police Department Concert Band and Swing Band, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Concert Band and Swing Band, the Biola Youth Theater pit orchestra, and has traveled and played with the Metro Big Band to Guatemala on two of their ministry projects with Global Missions Projects.

After the first of those two trips to Guatemala, Bob had the vision to begin a big band in Southern
California that could provide swing band musical entertainment at secular and Christian venues, while
conducting other community musical projects, such as youth jazz camps. The West Coast Big Band is the culmination of that vision.

Bob and his wife, Judy, moved to St George from So Cal the end of November, 2019. Besides keeping the West Coast Big Band going, and playing in the Praise Symphony Orchestra in So Cal, he has started playing with the Washington City Concert Band. With the help of a few of the band members here, he started the Red Rock Jazz Orchestra in January, 2021.

Bob considers it an honor, and is humbled to conduct this band of highly talented and qualified
musicians.

Sarah Lang - Saxophone

For me, band started in fifth grade. I had always known that I wanted to take band, I didn’t always know which instrument I wanted to play. I remember walking down the hallway with my mom on the way to the band room having a discussion about choosing an instrument and deciding that the saxophone was obviously the coolest and I should definitely choose it. I never looked back.

We moved to St. George when I was in sixth grade and I continued to play through high school, participating in concert, pep, and marching band. Unfortunately I had nowhere to play after high school. I moved to Washington City, got married, and had a couple kids but I never lost my band nerd heart.

Right around the time my oldest was going to be starting band, I saw an advertisement for the Washington City Concert Band (Washington City Community Band at the time) and couldn’t dial the phone fast enough! We started with about 10 members in 2014 and have grown to around 40 members in 2021. I have been serving as the President since the board was formed. I love being a part of that group.

Being part of the Washington City Band allowed me to also participate in a saxophone quartet where I play soprano sax. “Mr. Lundell and the Sax Ladies” has played a couple high school talent shows, community events, and at Christmas time, we like to take our show on the road and go sax caroling.

I take every opportunity to participate in musical opportunities (sorry kids), but I’m also heavily involved with the community. I enjoy volunteering at community events and local races like the St. George Marathon and Ironman. I have worked at the same manufacturing company since 1999, starting in the paint department and then moving into the Quality department where I am now the manger. My husband of 20 years is a Firefighter/Paramedic/Captain with Washington City and we have 2 daughters (Emily, 17 and Katelyn, 12). My husband doesn’t have a musical bone in his body, but both of my girls have taken up the saxophone and seem to enjoy it. I have been very fortunate to play with each of them in some ensembles throughout the years.

Among the crazy in 2020, I was invited to participate in the Red Rock Jazz Orchestra starting in 2021. Although, I’ve never played this type of music, I couldn’t resist the challenge and personal growth that came with the opportunity; I look forward to the music and performances this group offers.

Scott Swannie - Trombone

Growing up in southern California I began trombone lessons at age eleven and continued to progress those skills from elementary school into middle school where I joined the concert band and marching band, performing in several public performances, parades, and band reviews; both with the trombone and the drums. I continued my musical interest into high school where, again, I played the trombone all four years in the marching and concert band, and in addition, had the fortunate opportunity to perform at many large competative band reviews, half-time shows, and the Rose Parade in 1982. With my transition from high school into college, I was blessed to be part of the Big Band Jazz Machine from San Diego County, performing at several public charity events, until, apprehensively, hanging up the horn shortly after college and not playing again until mid-2020 when a good friend encouraged me to get back into playing and further hone my skills. Since then, that friend and I, and several others, are now members of the Washington City Concert Band in Washington, Utah, and most recently, as of January 2021, part of the Red Rock Jazz Orchestra in St George, Utah where we hope to provide quality muscianship and entertainment for all our anticipated audiences. I’m glad I listened to that friend; it’s been a blast. Now let’s JAM!!!

C. Tyson Jones - Drums

I started playing trumpet in fourth grade but always had my eyes on the drums. My band teacher tried to steer me away from percussion, citing that she didn’t want me to vacate my chair in the brass section. My step-father played drums professionally, and when I was 15, I was invited to be his roadie in return for access to the drum kit in our garage. The genesis of my relationship with drums was playing along to the recordings of Tower of Power and Spyro Gyra.

Playing in bands through high school, I earned All-State honors in Jazz, Orchestral, and Vocal performance and continued to acquire the experience and musical sense that propelled me into my next level of development in college. Here I got my first experience in collaborating on song-writing, and began my two-year private study with Motown/Jazz legend, Mel Brown. This period was pivotal in developing not only my technical aptitude, but expanding my perspective of feel and musicality. I eventually left academics to pursue music full-time. This led to six years of touring as a drummer/percussionist, providing live and session support for diverse artists, including Warren Barfield, Paul Wright, Strangers & Pilgrims, The Western Hemisphere Orchestra, and Allaway. I also traveled through Central America with evangelist Mike Silva, highlighted by playing the Nicaraguan national baseball stadium for a crowd of 30,000+.

After the adventures of touring, I stepped out of full-time music to focus on marriage and family. I continued playing as a member of The Green Onions Band and Soul Impression, and am excited to hold the drum seat for The Red Rock Jazz Orchestra.

Dustin Cox - Vocals

Dustin loves to sing, and has always had lots of fun doing it! He has played the piano, banjo, guitar and trumpet since he was young. He has sung in the past with several different bands, fulfilled singing parts in plays and has done a decent amount of studio recording.

Linda Parker - Saxophone

My musical career started back in 5th Grade when I was given the opportunity to play a musical instrument at school. As I gazed at the instruments, I was immediately drawn to the Alto Saxophone. Oh- the shininess, the number of keys, the cool shape! How could a 10-year-old girl not fall in love? Fast forward through years of playing in school, attending college, getting married, and becoming a mom. I did not have time to play the sax or even miss playing. However, when my youngest turned 3, I once again picked up a saxophone, and have not put my sax down since.

Over 25 years ago, I became a founding member of the Zeeland Community Band. Starting with 10 dedicated people, we became a well-respected community band located in West Michigan. We performed at Band Festivals, parades, community events, and hosted concerts. We slowly grew in size to over 50 talented musicians. As the children grew, I found myself with another free evening! I quickly joined the Holland American Legion Band, again in West Michigan. We were primarily a summer band, and every week we would rehearse our concert pieces for 45 minutes, then pack up and head to a town park on the shores of Lake Macatawa for our evening performance. The evening was truly a “piece of Americana performing in a historic bandshell at Kollen Park, overlooking the crowds at the park as the boats slipped by on the lake.

My husband and I relocated to St. George area 2 years ago, and an important consideration in the move location was the presence of a Community Band. As soon as we got settled, I reached out to the Washington City Concert Band where I have found a new home of dedicated musicians to play with.
I am excited to be playing with Red Rock Jazz Orchestra. To be able to grow musically and share great music with the people in the community is so important to me. I truly hope you enjoy our performances!

Alice Ericksen - Vocals

Alice Ericksen is well-known in Southern Utah and beyond as a soulful songstress, providing powerhouse sound. Her versatility is impressive, whether wooing lounge audiences as the lead singer for Soul What!?, entertaining as front woman in the tribute show HeartBeat:The Best of Heart, lifting spirits as a soloist with John Houston's Gospel Choir, or backing up big names in the studio. She is honored to be working with the talented line-up of musicians in Red Rock Jazz Orchestra. In the musical theater community, Alice has made her mark as a music director, coordinator, and vocal & band coach, lending her talents to shows such as School of Rock The Musical, Altar Boyz, Beauty and the Beast, A Chorus Line, and Jesus Christ SuperStar. Off stage, Ericksen is a certified teacher and learning coach with a Master's degree in Educational Administration. Alice lives in Santa Clara with her Bluesman husband, Dick Earl, and they are the proud parents of three talented musicians, Isaac, Mari, & Zoe.

Tiffany Barnes Watt - pianist

Tiffany Barnes Watts has been teaching piano for 25 years and has received her bachelor’s degree in Piano Pedagogy from Utah State University. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in music and music education from Teachers College: Columbia University, in NYC. During her high school and college careers she participated in several piano competitions receiving many Superior ratings along with 1st and 2nd winner of the Utah Music Teachers Association Concerto Competitions. Ms. Watts has been a member of teaching staff at Utah State University, Teachers College: Columbia University, and Castle Rock Music Camp at Dixie State University. Briefly, Ms. Watts became a high school math teacher at a charter school in Los Angeles, CA, and earned her single subject teaching credentials in mathematics and music from Alliant International University. She is a member of Utah Music Teachers’ Association and Music Teachers’ National Association. Additionally, Ms. Watts has been a dedicated Lindy hop and Charleston dancer since 2001 and has won 3rd place prize in the amateur division of the National Jitterbug Championships in Los Angeles, CA. Locally, she was cofounder of Red Rock Swing Dance (now under the name of St. George Swing Dance) and has been a co-planner of the annual Western Warbirds Museum Hangar Dance, along with winning the 3rd place prize for Dancing with the Community Stars competition in St. George.

Jay Fuller - Guitar

I switched from accordion to guitar in my early teens, and as a trio member played dance music gigs using a fakebook. As rock and roll became more popular, we began playing more of it, playing fraternity gigs and such in college. Classical guitar captured my attention though, and it became my music obsession for the next twenty years or so as I played semi-professionally at restaurants and weddings and in a duo with a flutist. However, a persistent injury to my right hand put an end to my playing.
We moved to St. George in 2012 and an acquaintance who was forming a band cajoled me into playing electric guitar which I found I could do with a pick. However, as is the nature of the beast, the band went through many changes and my interest was turning more to jazz which I have listened to ever since I joined a couple of high school friends in forming a school jazz club. When I saw some publicity for the newly formed Red Rock Jazz Orchestra, I decided to give it a try.