Kenneth Cloud, 83, Loved Playing Music From Big-Band Era

Kenneth Allen Cloud, the lanky artist whose trombone-playing and musical arrangements graced Seattle Symphony concerts, Ice Follies shows and Seattle Center dances for nearly 50 years, was always "In the Mood" for music, to borrow from his idol, Glenn Miller.

In fact, Mr. Cloud sat in with the Miller orchestra in the early 1940s. He favored the Miller sound the rest of his life.

"He played classical, pop and jazz, but his real love was big-band music," said his daughter, Nancy Cloud Schroeder of Poulsbo, Kitsap County. "Music always filled our home. . . . His arrangements were very popular, and many of them are still in use today."

Mr. Cloud died Tuesday (Nov. 9) of pneumonia. He was 83.

Whether playing in or leading big bands and small ensembles, working with famous musicians or unknown students, Mr. Cloud considered it all part of his long-playing infatuation with music.

"He was just a super player . . . an absolute gentleman in music," said trumpeter Lauren Anderson, who got to know Mr. Cloud in the 1960s when the latter taught at the University of Washington.

"He could read anything and everything (musical)," said Bob Tindall, who played in the Ken Cloud Orchestra at Seattle Center and elsewhere. "He was an unusual guy, kind of square, but he could really play jazz."

Aside from having excellent relative pitch and a warm tone on his instrument, Mr. Cloud endeared himself to employers and colleagues with his cheerful reliability.

He rarely made musical mistakes and had perfect attendance at symphony rehearsals and performances during 35 years with the organization.

"Ken's Big Band, which made its debut at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, won the title of best dance band in the Northwest and traveled to Chicago to place in the nationals," said former symphony colleague Ronald Phillips. "His band was that good."

Born in Everson, Whatcom County, Mr. Cloud grew up in Edmonds, where his father, Ray Cloud, ran the Edmonds Tribune. At his father's bidding, he studied journalism for a year at the UW.

Disenchanted with writing, he switched to music, his first love. He played in the UW Husky Band and UW Concert Band, earning his bachelor's degree in 1941.

During World War II, he served as trombone bandsman with the 505th Army Air Forces Band, traveling throughout the United States. That's when he played with Miller, who led an Army band.

After the war, Mr. Cloud joined the Seattle Symphony Orchestra - he had played with it before his military service. He retired in 1981.

He long led his own bands around Seattle and played for touring ice shows.

Bringing his musical life nearly full circle, he willed his library of scores and charts to his alma mater, the former Edmonds High School.

Also surviving are his second wife, to whom he was married 29 years, Marie Cloud of Snohomish; seven stepchildren, and their children and grandchildren; and his daughter's girl, Siri Schroeder of Seattle.

Services have been held.

Carole Beers' e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com