Hollywood Hitmen - Disney MGM

An excellent horn-based group that used to perform at Disney MGM Studios - now Disney's Hollywood Studios. There were numerous players who rotated into the group, at the time this was the regular lineup of the Monday - Friday "5-day" band.
Trumpets (L to R) - Dave Smith, Mark Zauss, John Ritchey Jr.
Trombone/vocals - Gary Anstey
Keyboard/vocals - Mike Avila
Drums - Mike Montoya
Bass - Jay Mueller

[@evan12495]

I love this! I miss watching this very talented group of musicians perform especially my very handsome and extremely talented husband and Leader of the group John Ritchey. I wish the group was still performing at Disney. 😎

[@MarkZauss]

I loved playing in this band!

[@stadalberts]

+Mark Zauss So, do you still work for Disney in some capacity as a musician?

[@MarkZauss]

Yes, I work full time at Disney in the Main Street Philharmonic at the Magic Kingdom.

[@MarkZauss]

The musicians in this band were Dave Smith trpt, Mark Zauss trpt, John Richey Trpt., Gary Anstey, Trombone and vocals, Mike Avila, Keyboards, Mike Montoaya, Drums, and the great Jay Mueller on Bass.

[@MarkZauss]

Thanks for remembering.

[@SeduccionBand]

Amazing👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ulfgarton]

I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!! No CD around ???

[@stadalberts]

By "stock" I mean guys who are musicians that work for WDW, and can be used as needed wherever at the parks.

[@trumpetvids]

+stadalberts Yes, they did other things besides the Hitmen. I know Mark Zauss still performs at Disney.

[@junkyman2]

Does anyone know if people like dave smith or mark zauss naturally had a wicked range or rather, it came really easy to them in their earlier high school years or is it something they worked and struggled to achieve?? just curious ---

[@rmirabelle]

mark graduated a year before I was a freshman in high school - I sort of followed his legend along as a trumpet player - though he practiced tons, he also seemed to simply have a god-given, freakish range - fully screaming even as a kid!I I finally achieved a reasonable double G for a short period in my senior year - he could whip them out like he was bored as a freshman. so it's both - you can certainly improve your range, but mad screaming seems to be innate.

[@Jritchey1211]

:-D

[@stadalberts]

So, were these justm "stock" musicians that worked for Disney?

[@trumpetvids]

+stadalberts Don''t know what you mean by "stock" musicians. They were employed by Disney and performed regularly with this group. This was what they called the Five-Day band - i.e. the primary members who performed most often. There were other players who did the weekends and subbed.