North Iowa Music Festival opens

Forget “76 Trombones.” Several HUNDRED trombones will be played by membersof nearly 30 marching bands converging on Mason City today. Lorris Long ischairman of the 61st annual North Iowa Band festival, underway throughSunday. It includes all sorts of music, entertainment, carnivals and shows.Long says the 10 a-m Saturday parade is a true musical spectacle that willinvolve thousands of uniformed, marching musicians.Actress Shirley Jones is returning to Mason City for the event. She starredin the 1962 film “The Music Man” which was written by native son MeredithWillson. Jones played “Marion the Librarian” in fictional River City, whichwas based on the real Mason City. Long says Jones is still singing.In addition to the 29 marching bands, there’s also a chorus of other typesof music in town — jazz, country, rock and roll and swing.