In 1949, Louie Grenier's Orchestra provided dance music at the Top of the Ocean throughout the season,Tuesday through Saturday. Louie Grenier had been a popular band leader in the Tacoma area since the 1930s. His orchestra had the distinction of a continuous Top of the Ocean engagement for the four years previous to 1949. L-R, back row, Don Wallen, trumpet and vocals; Bob Lind, drums; front row, Joe Martin, sax, clarinet and oboe; Morris Kenton, sax, clarinet and flute; Louis Grenier, sax, clarinet, organ and vocals; Bob Columbini, piano, celeste, organ and vocals. The orchestra, which played hit parade melodies and listed over 900 tunes for special requests from dancers, was featured at the restaurant for 27 years. (TNT, 3/1/1952, p.20)
Big bands--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Louie Grenier's Orchestra (Tacoma); Wallen, Don; Lind, Bob; Martin, Joe; Kenton, Morris; Grenier, Louie; Columbini, Bob;