Members of the Kamloops Rube Band (KRB) are celebrating 60 years of River City ambassadorship.

In 1949, a group of Kamloops musicians, who eventually became the KRB, was asked to participate in a blood-donor drive — and it has never looked back.

The band began to gain notoriety in Western Canada as the years went on and eventually garnered invitations to perform at festivals and celebrations in far-away countries, including the 1970 Expo in Osaka, Japan.

To this day, the band travels across North America, bringing clarinets, tubas, baritones, trombones, saxophones and drums, entertaining as it goes.

The eldest members are in their 80s, the youngest in their 20s, but age doesn’t matter — having fun does.

“We all interact really well and we are always welcoming the young people to join,” band chairman Jim Johannson said.

“It’s a brotherhood of musicians dedicated to the music and the fun.”

Recently, an RCMP escort led the band from the Kamloops Curling Club on River Street to the Rotary Bandshell in Riverside Park, where the KRB put on an hour-long concert. The next night, the band held a wine and cheese night for 110 past and present members.

“Most people that join the Rube Band never quit, even the ones that move away,” Johannson said.

“It’s always good to catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while.

A 34-year member himself, Johansson claims he’s “one of the younger guys in the band” and he doesn’t plan to stop playing any time soon.

Playing 30 to 35 shows around B.C. every year, the band remains active 60 years after its inception.

“We’ve really enjoyed acting as official ambassadors for the City of Kamloops and we’ve definitely put Kamloops on the map in a lot of places,” Johannson said.

The KRB practises every Monday night at the Kamloops Yacht Club on River Street.

Anyone 16 and over who can read music and play an instrument skillfully can take part in a practice session.

For more information, call Johannson at 250-828-1167.