I-435 West KC-KS in Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Merle Evans

Band Director

— Born 1894 • Columbus, Kansas —

Merle Evans Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

1. Merle Evans Marker

Inscription. Merle Evans left home at 15 and became a cornetist for the S.W. Brundage Carnival Band. He traveled throughout the United States and eventually became bandmaster of Jess Willard's Wild West Show. In 1919, Evans became circus maestro for Ringling Brother's Barnum & Bailey Circus band. Called "Toscanini of the Big Top," Evans and his circus windjammers played up to three, three-hour sessions within a 13-hour circus day. By the time he retired in 1969, he had entertained an estimated 165,120,000 circus fans.

Erected by Legends Outlets.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 39° 7.579′ N, 94° 49.67′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Kansas, in Wyandotte County. It is in I-435 West KC-KS. Marker can be reached from Village West Parkway. Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1859 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City KS 66109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Eva Jessye (here, next to this marker); "Jay" McShann (a few steps from this marker); Big Joe Turner/Pete Johnson (a few steps from this marker); The Golden Mean

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(a few steps from this marker); Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins (a few steps from this marker); Samuel Edward Ramey (within shouting distance of this marker); Bennie Moten (within shouting distance of this marker); Julia Lee (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Regarding Merle Evans. This is one of several sidewalk plaques placed on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex, which highlight notable people and inventions that came from the state of Kansas.

Also see . . . Merle Evans on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

2. Merle Evans Marker

Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 69 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.