Fred Benkovic died following problems lingering from a fall some three months earlier. He was 85 years old.
Fred began collecting band instruments while he was serving in the Army during WWII. At that time there were few others interested in these historical artifacts. Although his primary focus was always band instruments of the Civil War era, his collecting interests stretched from early primitive brass through instruments of WWI. Also, centering on the mid-nineteenth century, he gathered together uniforms and accouterments, images, bugles, fifes and weapons. His place in the collection, restoration and manufacture of reproduction rope tension drums is perhaps best described by George Carroll in his most recent book: Fred is a master craftsman; the first to restore and to manufacture copies of period drums accurately. And, he was a diligent researcher early on, assembling lists of manufacturers, documenting the history of individual instruments and searching out period band music.
Fred assembled perhaps the most significant private collection of these historic instruments. All publications listing 19th century instruments include examples from the Benkovic Collection. I suspect that every band that portrays the 19th century is using instruments that were, at one time, a part of the Benkovic collection.
Fred was an artist. His professional career was as a graphic artist for Pabst Brewing in Milwaukee. Fred's professional skills as an artist / illustrator enabled him to restore and replicate the identifying decorations on many historic drums. His artistic sensibilities and his attention to construction details enabled him to replicate missing elements of historic wind and percussion instruments. His artistic talent is on display in all of the print material he generated for the 1st Brigade Band including LP recording jackets.
Fred's national and international presence as a collector was balanced by his impact on music in Milwaukee and the mid-West. He was an extraordinary man who made significant contributions to a variety of musical organizations, especially those with a connection to U. S. history. In 1963 Fred gathered some of his instruments, some music from the Civil War era and some local musicians and began to perform. In 1964 he was invited to assemble a band to participate in a centennial re-enactment of Grant's return to Galena. That performance led to the foundation of the 1st Brigade Band and Heritage Military Music Foundation. Not content with one band in one historical period, Fred participated in the organization of the 4th Continental Band Of Music, a Revolutionary War era portrayal. Fred took leave from the 1st Brigade Band in the mid 1970s. He then formed a WWI dough boy band that presented concerts and participated in parades. Finally Fred organized, and participated in, the Command Performance Band, a portrayal of a WWII dance band, in which he played trombone and which continues as an active musical organization.
Fred was an active musician participating in Milwaukee civic musical organizations and, until recently, was an active bugler at military burials.
Finally, as many collectors and living historian across this country will attest, Fred was a mentor and friend, always ready with information and advice.
I am certain that Fred Benkovic and the others working with him could not have predicted, would not have predicted, the potential and success of the organization they were birthing in 1964. After all, no one had done such a thing. Certainly, in the 1960's, there was considerable interest in the music of the Civil War. There were even recordings of Civil War band music played on antique instruments. But these recordings were productions by professional-level musicians using instrument collections from museums.
The 1st Brigade Band, under Fred's leadership, was the first to gather together the necessary elements to effectively portray the military Bands of the Civil War: antique instruments, period music, uniforms and musicians.
The idea of organizing a Band of volunteer amateur musicians that would be willing to become living historians, committed to playing antique instruments and manuscript music was truly audacious. In some ways, finding the instruments and music was the easy part. Asking people to commit time, talent (and money), on a regular basis is quite a different matter. Weekly rehearsals and traveling to frequent performances has been a notable feature of the 1st Brigade Band from the very outset.
Fortunately, those who laid the foundation for the 1st Brigade Band made the right choices. They created Heritage Military Music Foundation. The operational patterns they established forty-five years ago, in particular a volunteer band of amateurs, are still part and parcel of the fabric of the 1st Brigade Band today. The words they selected to describe their vision Making History Live could not have been more appropriate and continue to provide a guiding light for the work that we do.
The Band now owns Heritage Hall in Watertown, Wisconsin - our rehearsal and storage space is secure. We have a superb collection of antique instruments. We have library resources that will sustain our programs for years to come. Most importantly, we have a band full of committed, creative members who are the future of this organization. We are continuing to Make History Live.
Dan Woolpert
Emeritus Bandmaster, 1st Brigade Band
Curator, Heritage Military Music Foundation Collection of 19th Century Band Instruments