Jeff Itcush: “When my Aunt Amelia was seven, the whole family formed a band called Ace and the Entertainers: Ace was the band leader, on guitar and vocals, Cousin Larry played electric Hawaiian guitar, Elaine played bass, Diane sang vocals and played clarinet and Amelia played ukulele. 

She was taught four chords and told to keep up. Her big job was to turn over her instrument at the end of the show, where “Thanks for coming!” was written. Amelia liked to say that her anxiety in later life stemmed from this early trauma. 

Elaine was a strong musician on string bass, eventually good enough to hire out as a session musician. The family had to buy two stand-up basses. When Elaine started competing with Ace for jobs, her father broke up the band.”