Silver-Top band members play, dance, and enjoy their retirement.
Vallery Brown, Staff Writer
Published: October 3, 2008
For Gary Johnson, 66, retirement is a smooth, toe-tapping jazz standard.
The leader of the Oklahoma City-based band the Silver-Tops lived in Ponca City for 30 years before retiring from his job as a chemical engineer five years ago. He moved to Oklahoma City to enjoy his golden years.
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Ingrid’s Kitchen in Oklahoma City fills to the brim every Saturday as it has for the past 18 years with retirees and music lovers who waltz, rumba, and cha cha into the afternoon.
Johnson’s four-member ensemble offers up danceable classics from the 1920s, 30s and 40s to go along with the smells of sauerkraut, warm bread and meat that leave the kitchen of the restaurant.
Johnson says the key to an easy-going retirement is creativity, freedom and music.
“It takes a lot of mental and physical coordination to do what we do,” Johnson said. “It clears the cobwebs in the brain.”
Bass player Dave Soukup, 71, a retired high school band director and former South Dakota National Guard band member, agrees that music plays an important role in his older years, keeping him sharp and grounded.
“This music covers a large span of our history,” Soukup said. “You connect with memories and it reminds you of who you are.”
When asked if he would change anything about his retirement, Johnson curls his fingers and starts to play the keys. The other band members look over to follow his lead into a song. Singer Kitty Houston holds her microphone up and drummer Sid Goodwin taps lightly on his crash cymbals.
“This is ideal,” said Johnson.
Vallery Brown: 475-3323, vbrown@oklahoman.com
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