Daniel F. Welch, a music educator and a versatile musician and vocalist who performed with big bands and combos across the region, died Dec. 9 in his South Toledo home. He was 74.
He had not been feeling well recently, and his death was unexpected, his wife, Sue Gorney-Welch, said.
Mr. Welch taught at Central Catholic High School and was assistant band director there under his mentor, the legendary Jerry DePrisco — who’d been his sixth-grade clarinet teacher. He later taught in the Toledo Public Schools, was choir director at Waite High School, and directed the Toledo Youth Jazz Ensemble.
“He was able to help them recognize their giftedness. He was able to bring that talent out of individual kids,” his wife said. “Someone might not proceed on to anything to do with music, but he left them with the sense that music as an important part of their life and that no matter where they ended up and they found those vibrations within themselves, it would make them a better person.”
Audiences for decades heard Mr. Welch play clarinet and saxophone in a variety of groups — from big bands led by Mr. DePrisco, Johnny Knorr, and Hershey Cohen to Swingmania.
“He was very proud to be part of that legacy,” his wife said.
Doug Swiatecki, a historian of Toledo jazz, said: “Dan was widely loved. There isn’t a musician you’ll talk to who won’t speak glowingly about Dan.”
Mr. Welch played rock classics with the Watermelon Men. He played Eastern-style polka music with Bob Zielinski and the King’s Men and toured the eastern seaboard with the group.
With his own group, the Weekenders, he performed for dancers at the Carranor Hunt and Polo Club in Perrysburg and the Maumee Elks Club and for a variety of receptions, parties and events.
“Dan could read a crowd, and he had such versatility with the styles of music he played,” his wife said.
Trombonist Mike Miller said: “He was one of the finest musicians I have worked with in the area of big band jazz and commercial music. I’ve been at it for over 50 years.
“He was such a versatile singer. He could sing anything from old rock ’n’ roll things, any of the big band things, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin things,” Mr. Miller said. “He had this great ear.
“We got to be like brothers. We always had fun joking on the bandstand.”
Mr. Welch took particular pride in being a Sinatra stylist, according to the biography on his website.
“When we got into playing New York, New York, he would insist that everybody get on the dance floor and do a kick line,” said drummer Jeff McDonald, leader of Swingmania. “His musicianship was outstanding.”
He aced music associated with clarinetists Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. He tackled Jimmy Dorsey’s alto sax part on the tune, So Rare — “and he played the heck out of that thing,” Mr. McDonald said.
Mr. Welch had been president of Local 15-286, Professional Musicians of Northwest Ohio. His self-produced CDs include the release, Christmas with Dan.
He was born Dec. 17, 1946, in Toledo to Opal and Raymond Welch. His father was a renowned local violinist who was a member of the Toledo Symphony.
He took music lessons at the DePrisco family’s downtown Toledo music store and was a 1964 graduate of Central Catholic High School. He had a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Toledo. He later received master’s degrees in music education and automotive engineering. For several years, he was a quality control engineer for an automotive supplier.
He was formerly married to Mary Lou McIntire DeVriendt.
Surviving are his wife, Suzanne Gorney-Welch, whom he married in March, 2000; sons James and Robert Welch; daughters Diana Nash and Laurie Welch; sister, Mary Jane Welch, and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until noon Friday at the Coyle Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Joan of Arc Church, of which he was a member.
The family suggests tributes to St. Joan of Arc Church; Central Catholic High School, or Cherry Street Mission Ministries.
First Published December 16, 2021, 5:00 a.m.