Personal
Me on bass.
Me on trombone.
The "Legion" Band
April 2002. My Krew. Eleven kids (average age is 13, my son, lower left) and Annie who drives my second car (I drive the mini-van). We play in the parade band sponsored by the local American Legion (veterans' association). The rest of the band are old geezers like me and older! Tough book too. No mamsy pamsy marches either. Last parade we played the full arrangement of Sousa's Washington Post twice back-to-back, past the reviewing stand. My lips were hanging down after that.
March 7, 2004. St. Patrick's Day, Yonkers, NY. The "usual suspects." My son, Michael (picture above, bottom row left), Danny, one of my students (picture above, bottom row 4th from left), Kevin and Juan (the "new guy").
For more information on the Port Chester Legion Band follow this link: Legion Band
Historical
We all start somewhere and this is where I started. (Left) in elementary
school (circa 1959).
No wonder people asked me if the baritone was a tuba, I was a little guy.
(Right)
A few years later in middle school with my own Beuscher upright (circa 1963).
Circa 1965. High School. Mitch Ames (my high school buddy), me (on our Hagstroms), Eric Seiser on accordion (yes, accordion was an acceptable instrument in Rock n Roll Back then). I'm playing through a Dan Electro amp (wish I still had it) and Mitch had a brandy-new Ampeg Gemini I. (Source: My dad's slide collection)
"Nova Express" reunion, circa 1968. L to R: Fred Molin (on 60's SG Standard), John (Nunzio) Smith (on 60's Jazz Bass - I've owned that instrument since the early 70's), Jack Falco (drums), Me (on lap steel - note my brandy-new Telecaster - I still own that guitar). Fred Molin went on to become a successful record producer (Dan Hill, "Sometime When We Touch") and also a successful film and TV score composer. I went on to be, well, me... (Should I apologize for my Mom's window shades? It was the 60's, after all, flower power was the big thing. Anyway, I decided not to Photoshop them out).
Circa 1968. College. "The Men's Room Art Band." (I'm tucked in on the far right). This group was formed so we could perform in a regional "Jazz and Folk Festival." We performed an instrumental "extended jam" that was de rigueur for the time. Two trumpets, guitar (the guitarist opted to play my Tele), drums, bass (me - my first gig on bass) and Hammond organ.
Circa 1969. College. "The Son of Men's Room Art Band." This was my second year with Dave (the harp player, who was the Hammond player in the picture above). We took a softer approach the following year and appeared in the "Folk" section of the festival. (The ubiquitous Tele rides again). (Note: I gave the Hagstrom in the 1965 photo to the guy on the right, Bill. He was a cool and talented dude who was in need of an electric guitar but couldn't afford one. I had two it seemed like the right thing to do.)