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Music

Four families, generations of music: A KAXE special celebrating Grand Rapids' musical legacy

KAXE | By Kari Hedlund
Published October 9, 2026 at 3:21 PM CDT
Four people sit next to each other while they play the fiddle and guitar.
Contributed
/
Tom Page
Lloyd LaPlant, Bill LaPlant and Lenore Siems play together with others at the Community Open House Jam at Rapids Brewing in Grand Rapids, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.

An open community jam in September 2026 was centered around the history and legacy of four families in Grand Rapids with deep musical ties to the area.

GRAND RAPIDS — The history of a community isn't just found in internet archives or newspaper clippings. It's also carried by the people who were there. A tale as old as time.

Many communities in the KAXE listening area have rich and vibrant arts and music scenes. Grand Rapids residents recently came together for a Community Open House Jam celebration recognizing some of the families who played an integral role in fostering the arts and music legacy of the area: the LaPlant, Miltich, Downing and Aultman families.

A man in the center plays his guitar with others surrounding him.
Contributed
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Tom Page
John Aultman at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.

Event organizer Myrna Peterson said she felt it was necessary for the broader community in the Grand Rapids area to have a connection to that history and past.

"When I get to a community, I love to get involved to find out the history," Peterson said.

Two women sit next to each other with their instruments.
Contributed
/
Tom Page
Lenore Siems and Emily LaPlant at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.

KAXE captured the spirit of the event in a special hour-long broadcast that featured stories from the four families, exploring the different ways music has shaped them and how that, in turn, helped shape the community we know today.

Listen to the full KAXE special above to hear the stories of the music, community, family and the beauty of inter-generational learning.

A man sits in his chair playing the guitar.
1 of 16  — John Downing.jpg
John Downing at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man sits with his guitar.
2 of 16  — Jesse Aultman.jpg
Jesse Aultman at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man sitting with a guitar looks and smiles at the camera.
3 of 16  — John Aultman.jpg
John Aultman at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
Two men next to each other while they both play instruments.
4 of 16  — Bill LaPlant and Dominic Orrico.jpg
Dominic Orrico and Bill LaPlant play with others at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
Two women sit next to each other with their violins.
5 of 16  — Mary LaPlant and Lenore Siems.jpg
Mary LaPlant and Lenore Siems play together at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
Five people are gathered around playing instruments together.
6 of 16  — Chuck LaPlant, Babette Allen, Lloyd LaPlant, Bill LaPlant and Dick Rees.jpg
Chuck LaPlant, Babette Allen, Lloyd LaPlant, Bill LaPlant and Dick Rees at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man stands with his upright bass.
7 of 16  — Chuck LaPlant.jpg
Chuck LaPlant at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man in a hat plays the melodica.
8 of 16  — Dick Rees - melodica.jpg
Dick Rees with his melodica at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man with his guitar in the foreground and a flute player behind him.
9 of 16  — Jesse Aultman2.jpg
Jesse Aultman at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
People sitting down playing music together.
10 of 16  — Babette Allen, Lloyd LaPlant, Mary LaPlant.jpg
Babette Allen, Lloyd LaPlant with Mary LaPlant in the foreground at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
People sitting down playing music together.
11 of 16  — Dominic Orrico, Dick Rees.jpg
Dominic Orrico plays with others at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A flute player in a hat stands while playing music with others.
12 of 16  — Flute player_Aultman.jpg
A flute player jams with others outside at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man sits down while playing music with others with a flute in the foreground.
13 of 16  — Flute Player, John Downing.jpg
John Downing with others playing at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
People sitting around playing and singing music together.
14 of 16  — Members of the Aultman Family.jpg
Members of the Aultman family and more sing together at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
Two women sit next to each other with their instruments.
15 of 16  — Lenore Siems, Emily LaPlant.jpg
Lenore Siems and Emily LaPlant at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page
A man in the center plays his guitar with others surrounding him.
16 of 16  — John Aultman2.jpg
John Aultman at the Community Open House Jam, Sept. 20, 2026.
Contributed / Tom Page

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Music HeadwatersCommunityMinnesota MusiciansLocal MusicGrand RapidsArrowheadKAXE
Kari Hedlund
The Music Director since 2014, Kari (pronounced Car-ee) Hedlund oversees the music programming and content you hear each day on KAXE. She hosts Headwaters every Wednesday (9 a.m. and 10 p.m.) and is co-host to Heidi Holtan on the Thursday Morning Show.
See stories by Kari Hedlund
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