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Knight Blaze Plays Final Gigs and Pays Tribute to Fallen Member
This article was written by David Willoughby
It first appeared on the Dayton version of Examiner.com – October 1, 2009
Dayton, Ohio – The final performance of a famous Dayton rock band was bittersweet for all involved. Knight Blaze played their final two shows on September 30th during the safety expo at Sinclair Community College. After 15 years of rocking and rolling, April Thomas, founding member and vocalist says, “Knight Blaze has had a wonderful run, but, all good things must come to an end.”
Knight Blaze is not your ordinary band. They were united for a purpose and also united as a profession. See, all members of Knight Blaze were police officers and firefighters from various departments across Montgomery County.
Kendra Bryant, Moraine Police Department
Vocals, Band Manager
Don Parker, Centerville Police Department
Bass Guitar, Equipment Manager
Richard Palmer, Washington Township Fire Department
Guitar/Guitar Synthesizer/Vocals, Music Director
April Thomas, Huber Heights
Vocals
Gerry Gustin, Huber Heights Police Department
Drums/Percussion/Vocals
Mike Schuder, Huber Heights Fire Department
Guitar/Vocals
They performed for area children while promoting a “substance free” lifestyle. Not only do they offer rock and roll as an alternative to using drugs and alcohol, they have also been an encouragement to kids to avoid peer pressure and other negative actions.
Dale Huffman wrote a review of Knight Blaze in his Dayton Daily News column on April 15, 2005.
The final performances were dedicated to a long time bandmember, Jamie Faulkner, Trotwood Police detective who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. The band members were honored to have Jamie’s wife on hand during a special tribute where they wrote messages to Jamie on balloons and then released them into the air.
Jamie was a 13-year veteran of the Trotwood police force, first starting as an auxiliary officer with the Madison Township Police Department. During his career he worked as a dispatcher, community affairs officer, patrol officer, evidence technician, school resource officer and as a detective investigating sexual assaults against children. He had an amazing voice and was very talented on the keyboards and many other instruments.
The last time I saw Jamie play was at the funeral of Trotwood Captain Wiley Sampson, who passed away in 2000. I am sure Wiley and Jamie have shared some fun times since they met back up in heaven.
It was Jamie’s duties as a school resource officer at Trotwood-Madison High School where he met a young man that would soon change his life forever. Jamie had been summoned to a fight between students and found 14-year old Robert. Robert had become upset and punched his hand through a window. Jamie drove Robert to the hospital and found out that Robert had been passed around from foster family to foster family. After praying for several days, Jamie decided to adopt Robert. Jamie
gave Robert the stability that he needed and Robert gave Jamie joy beyond belief.
Jamie had also met another love of his life. He married Jessie this past year after being diagnosed with liver cancer. During the tribute and balloon release, Jessie Faulkner wore Jamie’s Trotwood Police badge around her neck, along with his official police identification card.
Jamie believed whole-heartedly in the mission of Knight Blaze. He had a passion for helping all people, but children were especially close to his heart.
April Thomas echoed this sentiment when thanking the numerous people who have supported and been touched by Knight Blaze over the years.
“To all who have been along for the ride and been our moral support, thank you isn’t enough. We all hope that there has been, however small or great, some positive impact on the youth of our community,” Thomas said.
Sgt. Jay Phares, Miami Township Police Department was not in the band, but was a fan. He added, “I think it is great that Knight Blaze was able to send a positive message to the Miami Valley for 16 years.”
Lt. Gerry Gustin, drummer and vocalist said, “I will play Hang On Sloopy and Jailhouse Rock for the last of 10,000 times. Thanks to all of you who clapped for us. It was a blast!”
Cop rock continues to roll
By Dale Huffman
Dayton Daily News, April 18, 2005
Back in June of 1993 I was on hand at the Mandalay Banquet Center when the musical group known as Knight Blaze performed in public for the first time.
Actually, a number of the readers of this column had submitted dozens of names which were passed along to the founders of the band, who eventually felt Knight Blaze was a name that would stick. It has. And the group is still going strong.
The rock band is made up of Miami Valley police officers and firefighters who share two things, a love of making music, and helping inspire young people to lead decent lives.
“We are still together after these years of performing for school children and appearing at public safety events,” said Don Parker, a police officer with Centerville police and a bass guitar player in the band. “Some schools have dropped the D.A.R.E. programs which we supported, but we are still being called on, we are still in demand.”
The band is scheduled for a major performance at 11 a.m. on April 27 in Kuss Auditorium at the Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 S. Fountain Ave., in Springfield.
“Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly has agreed to be on hand to introduce the band and talk to the kids, and we expect young people from schools all over the area to be bused to the concert,” Parker said. “We stage a high charged event and we are still using music to help change lives.”
Knight Blaze was formed three years after Dayton police introduced a band called Cop’rz (which our readers also helped name) and the premise of both groups has been the same.
If young people “rock” with police officers and firefighters, have fun with them, trust them and talk to them, young lives may be influenced positively, and perhaps saved.
The members of the band have rotated over the years, and safety officials taking part give up off-duty hours for rehearsal time. Current members of Knight Blaze include, in addition to Parker, Kendra Bryant of Moraine police, the band manager and vocalist; April Tobias of Huber Heights police on vocals; Gerry Gustin of Huber Heights police on drums, and backup vocals; Mike Schuder of Huber Heights fire department on guitar and vocals; Jamie Faulkner of Trotwood police on the keyboard, and vocals; and Richard Palmer, a Washington Twp. firefighter, on guitar, synthesizer and vocals.
Palmer, a fire and safety educator since 1991, has also written and arranged some of the music the band performs. “The retention of messages delivered through music can be quite effective,” Palmer said. “Music is a tremendous vehicle for presenting safety education messages.”
Parker added: “Because peer pressure is such a large factor in how children develop their habits and attitudes, Knight Blaze promotes having a good time without the use of drugs and alcohol. Our message is sincere.”
