Jim Hodge was born May 31, 1927 in Ashville, North Carolina. Born and raised in the South, he enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, just as World War II was winding down. His primary job was that of a cook.

Musician and arranger Kenneth (Ken) M. Tiffany, Jr. was born in 1936 and remembered always having a love of music. After learning various instruments he decided the trombone was his favorite. He played professionally all over the country with many noted swing bands before settling in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was the lead trombone player at the Sahara Hotel for many years.