History
Pat O’Neal has had a Jazz Band (Quartet) in Portland since 1953, when he played five nights a week at Walt Palaski's "Indian Room" of the Oregon Hotel (now the Benson) in downtown Portland on Broadway.
During his time at Lewis & Clark College (grad '58), he had the radio show "Lewis & Clark is on the Air,” a classical music program. This was on the air for two years and featured the L&C Music Dept's.
Also, in 1957, Pat had a band named "The Collejets". They were LIVE on KPTV Channel 12 every Thursday evening at 7 pm. This show lasted 9 months. The show featured many guests and had a "Dixieland" theme.
After graduation from L&C in 1958, Past worked the next 6 years, six nights a week in Portland area nightclubs. The "Embers" and "Club Portland" were right downtown.
When the "Bali Hai" opened in '59, Pat played for many of the top music personalities of the day including: Anita O'Day, Julie London, Della Reese, Mel Torme', the Mills Brothers, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, The Crosby Brothers and Jane Russell, to name a few. Some of the musicians that preformed with Pat during that era are still playing in town.
After leaving music as a full time musician to work in the daytime world, Pat became a manager at the "Top of the Park" Haviland Hotel. His Quartet performed on weekends.
In 1982, he joined and helped start the "Stumptown Jazz Dixieland Band" and was its musical director for the next fourteen years. This band traveled all over the country playing most of the Jazz Festivals on the "Circuit"! During this time he also formed "The Riverboat Jazz Band" (RBJB), a four-piece group, that would play gigs that an eight piece band would not do.
In August of '95, Pat left Stumptown Jazz for a Ten year stint on the Queen of the West Sternwheeler. The RBJB was the welcoming committee for the passengers on their weekly cruises on the Columbia River. They played every Saturday from about mid-February through December.
During this same period the RBJB played numerous gigs for Funerals, Wakes, Private parties, Corporate functions, retirement Homes, Grand Openings, etc. (A list of some of those you will find on the web page.)
Pat continues to play to this day for various special events and occasions. He has played at fund raising events such as Tucker-Maxon School’s Derby Day event at Portland Meadows racetrack on Kentucky Derby Day, supplying an authentic southern Dixie Band sound.
Any function that needs good professional entertainment will find that Pat can create the feeling and excitement that will make your event a success!