EVERETT C. CROUSE, Reed Instrumentalist
Everett C. Crouse, a native of Visalia, California, enlisted in the United States Navy in
1968 bringing with him a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education earned at the College
of Idaho and graduate work at Fresno State College. Since that time, he as completed
graduate work in education at the Chapman University, the University of Hartford--Hartt
School of Music and Certification in Computer Networks and Applications at Coleman
College.
Upon completion of recruit training at NTC, San Diego in March 1969, he was transferred
to the Armed Forces of Music, Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia for their basic course. In
February 1970, he was assigned to the Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Unit Band 155
which deployed on the USS Iwo Jima for the Apollo 13 landing in the South Pacific. His
next assignments were aboard the USS Constellation, USS Kitty Hawk and USS Hancock for
Western Pacific evolutions in conjunction with Commander Task Force 77 in the Tonkin Gulf
of Viet Nam.
In June 1971, Mr. Crouse was selected as a charter member of the original Navy Show Band
West, a premier community relations musical organization. He served as tenor saxophone
instrumentalist, stage manager and logistics coordinator until the band moved to San
Francisco in 1974. He continued as a reed instrumentalist with Navy Show Band West
following the transfer to San Francisco and was advanced to Musician First Class. In
June 1975, he was selected for assignment to the United States Naval Academy Band in
Annapolis, Maryland where he served as reed instrumentalist in the Concert Band, Stage
Band and various combos. He was also a featured Master of Ceremonies, operations
coordinator and conductor. He was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer in
August 1978.
Everett Crouse returned to the School of Music in 1979 and completed the Enlisted
Bandleader Course. Upon graduation, he served as ceremonial band conductor and rock
ensemble leader at Navy Band Great Lakes where he was advanced to Senior Chief Musician.
In February 1981, he was assigned as Director, Navy Band Guam where he led the band in
such exotic locations as Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Ulithi, Yap and the many
islands of the Marianas Archipelago.
In February 1983, Mr. Crouse returned to Navy Band San Francisco as the Assistant
Director. June 1985 brought a transfer to Washington D.C. to the Bureau of Naval
Personnel as Fiscal Manager for the Navy Music Program and subsequent advancement to
Master Chief Petty Officer. He was later appointed the Enlisted Personnel Detailer for
the Program.
Mr. Crouse was transferred to Navy Band San Diego in July 1988 as Assistant Director. He
was instrumental in continuing the Summer Concert Series as conductor at popular
performance venues throughout the Greater San Diego Area. In 1993 he moved to the Bay
Area for his second tour as Assistant Director of Navy Band San Francisco. Following the
Naval Station Treasure Island base closing in 1995, Mr. Crouse was again transferred to
NTC San Diego. He completed his 29 year naval career in 1997.
Everett Crouse's personal military decorations include: the Navy Commendation Medal (four
awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit
Commendation (two awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (seven awards), National Defense
Service Medal (two awards), Viet Nam Service Medal (two awards), Overseas Service Ribbon
and Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal.
In 1997, Mr. Crouse began his public school music teaching career at Pacific Beach Middle
School. In his fourth year of teaching, he added the Mission Bay High School music
program to his assignment in Pacific Beach. With the strong support of America's Finest
City Dixieland Jazz Society, Mr. Crouse was able to continue the Dixieland Jazz tradition
taking his high school band to the Thanksgiving Festival and the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee
each year until his retirement in 2003. He currently performs with Marty Conley's Big
Band Express, the Legacy Big Band, Paragon Jazz Band, Coronado Concert Band, Heliotrope
Ragtime Orchestra, Edelweiss Beer Hall Band and the Rey Vinole Big Band and Orchestra.
A second generation native Californian, Mr. Crouse is married to the former Eufemia F.
Solomon of Pangasinan, Philippines. He has two adult sons, Neil and Edward, a
granddaughter, Alexandria and great granddaughter, Mylinh.
