Silicon Stompers History Page

A Brief History

Silicon Stompers Jazz Band began as Joe Bithell's Silicon Gulch Jazz Band 45 years ago performing weekly on Tuesday nights at Swingin' Door Pub in San Mateo, California. The pub has changed names from the Swingin' Door to Prince of Wales, and back again to the Swingin' Door. And likewise, the band has changed names from Joe Bithell and his Silicon Gulch Jazz Band, to Silicon Gulch Jazz Band, to Silicon Stompers Jazz Band. Read more about Joe Bithell below.

Numerous San Francisco Bay Area Musicians played with Joe over the years, and continued to play with the band after his death in 2005. The band continued under different leadership since 2005, and is currently lead by Jon Schermer who joined the band in July of 2000.

More on Joe Bithell:
Joe Bithell sang and played old-time bluesy jazz in clubs throughout the Bay Area, spinning out tunes from the Roaring '20s through the '40s, what fellow aficionados call the golden age of jazz. Music was everything to Joe Bithell, according to his close friends from all walks of life.

Joe was self-taught on the tuba, trumpet, jug and washboard. He was a charter member of Washboard International and a member of the New Orleans Jazz Club of Northern California and the South Bay Traditional Jazz Club of San Jose.

"He was very enthusiastic and really loved the music,'' said John Dodgshon, who played trumpet with Silicon Gulch Jazz Band. "He did a lot for many musicians, giving them jobs in his band or finding other jobs for them. He had a positive influence on jazz here in the Bay Area, particularly the South Bay.''

He had a photographic memory not only for the music he loved but also for the whereabouts of those who played and shared his love of jazz.

Here are a few audio tracks featuring Joe Bithell on vocals and washboard in Silicon Gulch Jazz Band:

mp3s: