Jim Layton is honored to have served as Conductor Emeritus and President of the Clay County Community Band since 2009 following his tenure as the principal conductor for the previous ten years. Under his direction and guidance the band grew from 18 members performing 1-2 times per year to the present organization including 70 members who perform 8-10 times annually throughout the community. Since December of 2008, Clay County Community Band has been a featured performing group at the Thrasher Horne Center for the Performing Arts for Clay County Christmas productions.

Jim Layton is currently retired from a successful career of 35 years in music education bringing the thrill of band music to over 7000 children. With his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, he began his career in Heard County, Georgia in 1973 where he taught band from 3rd grade through 12th grade. After returning to FSU and earning a Masters of Music Education in 1975, Layton spent the next 34 years here in Clay County at Lakeside Middle/Jr. High School teaching band to 6-9th graders. During those years, bands under his direction earned superior or excellent ratings, best in class, 1st or 2nd place and espirit de corp awards in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia.

He is a life member of Florida Bandmaster’s Association and Music Educators Association for which he serves as an adjudicator in Florida for band festivals and solo and ensemble festivals. In addition, Layton served as the Clay County Honor Band coordinator for ten years tripling the student participation involving junior and senior high school students.

In retirement since 2009, Mr. Layton continues his active membership in Orange Park United Methodist Church where he serves as an usher coordinator, a member of the United Methodist Men, and a member of the church orchestra. His music involvement reaches further into the greater community as he volunteers as an active member and part-time conductor of The Recycles Orchestra performing weekly in various nursing homes, schools, retirement communities and other venues. He has also performed with the Ancient City Brass Band focusing on music of the Civil War Era; First Coast Wind Ensemble; and the St. John’s Cathedral Brass Quintet in Residence. Even on vacation, he takes his musical volunteer spirit with him to western Maryland performing with the Garrett County Community Band in July and October! In addition to his work in music, he volunteers with the Clothes Closet of Orange Park on a regular basis. Between rehearsals, performances and his volunteer schedule, Layton enjoys his leisure time hobby of tennis several times weekly. He has been a resident of Orange Park with his wife, Norma, since 1975. They currently reside on Fleming Island and enjoy time together for gardening, home improvement projects, traveling and their role as grandparents.

Growing up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California Burk learned to play trombone in the spring of 1955 while in the 7th grade at Sequoia Junior High School. By the time he matriculated to Reseda High School in the fall of 1957 he played well enough to hold a chair in the premier dance band, The Regenairs. One of the few High School bands in the Los Angeles area accomplished enough to actually play paying gigs.

After graduation from High School Burk went to the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona to study architecture. While there he played in local and regional bands and mentored High School instrumental music students in the Tucson School System.

Returning to Los Angeles after college, he was employed by Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank. While at Lockheed he played lead trombone in the house band under the direction of Benny Goodman’s brother Harry. After about 8 years at the Burbank plant he accepted an assignment that kept him moving around the country and often away from home for extended periods so he put his horn away for a while.

After retiring from Lockheed in 1998 he started playing again in earnest. He’s played with The Recycles, the Shrine Swing Band, the All Star Orchestra and he and his wife, Carol own and operate a local 15 piece dance band, the Fascinating Rhythm Orchestra. He also works with Band Directors in Duval, Clay and St. Johns county’s on their Jazz Band programs and lectures at many elementary schools in the area. He has been a member of the Clay County Community Band for 19 years and is the founder and director of the Clay County Swing Band which he has led for the last 17 years. He has also served as President and Vice President of the Band and is currently the Grant Writer for the Band.

Among his other interests, in addition to his wonderful and supporting wife, Burk lists bandleader Glenn Miller, seascape and landscape painting in oils, wood working, model railroading, reading and Little League Baseball.

Cheryl Knight, who has played trombone as a member of both the Clay County Community Swing and Concert Bands since 2006, is a native Floridian who grew up in West Palm Beach in a musical family. They were named the National Amateur Musical Family of the Year 1980. After graduating 1987 from Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University with a Bachelors degree in Music Education, she taught music for 15 years. She specialized in elementary general music, instrumental music and private piano lessons around the Pittsburgh area. She also performed trombone in the Butler County Symphony Orchestra from 1991-2001 as well as being a freelance musician. One of the highlights of her playing career was performing on stage with costume, wig and makeup at Carnegie Mellon University and then Benedum Center for the Performing Arts with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for their musical productions of Cabaret in 1995.

She went back to school and graduated from Chatham College with a Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies in 2004 and moved back to the Sunshine state. She currently works in Orange Park.

Cheryl and her husband Alan, who married in 2006, live on the Southside.

They have a son Brandon and granddaughter Mia who reside in Alabama. When she is not working or performing, Cheryl enjoys photography, swimming, looking for shark’s teeth at the beach, snow skiing out West and traveling the world.

Trombone is actually Cheryl’s 3rd instrument. She started piano lessons in 1st grade, violin in 4th grade and trombone in 7th grade. Cheryl says she stayed with the trombone because it is the most fun to play. She also likes being the only female in the section.

Her first experience conducting was when her high school band director let her direct the concert band her senior year. She feels it is an honor to be able to conduct the CCCB and is grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves in life.

Roy McCance is a native of Jacksonville, Fl. A graduate of FSU and Jacksonville University. Playing clarinet since 1947. Band director at Lakeshore Jr. H.S for 10 years and director at Ed White Sr. H.S. for 20 years. Retired in 1991.

A member of the U.S.A.F. band in Washington, D.C. for 4 years. He is a professional musician playing clarinet,sax. and flute. Dixieland jazz is a favorite.

He is a licensed pilot and has built several experimental aircraft. A member of the CCCB for 10 years. The band has performed many of his compositions and arrangements. WD4RHM is his amateur radio call sign. In addition to his musical activities he enjoys playing golf and flying Radio control model planes.

Mr. Creswell was a musician in the U.S. Navy. He has degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, Jacksonville University, and the University of North Florida. He was the band director at Clay High School for 10 years, Orange Park High School for 21 years, and he opened Fleming Island High School and was there for 6 years. He is a member of Florida Bandmasters Association and is a past president. He is married to his wife Judy and they have three children and four grandchildren. He retired in 2009 and now enjoys being with family and playing golf. He plays in and is one of the conductors of the Clay County Community Band.

Billy Bullock inherited his love of music from his family. His mother played piano and his father played trumpet. Billy started his formal music training when his grant aunt (Grace Todd, a church pianist and organist) began teaching him piano at the age of 7. He played trumpet in middle school, high school and college. Billy joined the Clay County Community band in 2000. Billy holds a Doctorate in Health Science and works at CSX Transportation in the Occupational Health department. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Public Health at the University of West Florida and in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University.

Leonard Alterman plays clarinet in the band and serves as announcer for our concerts. A lawyer, he also helps us with compliance issues as a non-profit corporation and any other legal matters that arise. Leonard's other artistic interest is acting and he has performed in over 60 productions at just about every theater in the area as well as commercials and movies.