1968??? WOW. Back then more than a few people suggested I write a book, but as one of the teaching staff at LHS said, "Naaa, no one will believe it". This was a pivotal time in my life BIGTIME, in just about every aspect.
In '68, I was 18. I was into Jazz trumpet in a big way. I didn't know any of the bands everyone else knew, although I did hear of them.
I had a "bud" who was 10 yrs. older than me, that turned me on to several jazz groups around Cleveland. Quickly, I was playing with several jazz groups around town, and a few big bands here and there. Oh yeah, I did play with a 10 piece Mariachi band with the Ricky Ricardo type shirts for a few months. Not many laughed at those duds, I was driving a NEW Thunderbird. I was making some strong money for an 18 year old. School ? uhhh...yeah a little. I DID graduate but only by a hair.After all, I was playing 5 nights a week or more at the Cat's Meow downtown. Those musicians probably averaged 70 years old. Two of 5 piece band played with Count Basie, Duke Ellington and the like. Boy did I get an education there.I guess I just looked "older". I was usually the only "pale-face" in the club. I loved those people and the guys in the band. Skipping to the next part, *ahem*.,
In the rest of the world, refer to Gary's posts. No point to duplicating efforts.
In the meanwhile, LHS Concert band and the Marching Band was a strange mix of superb musicianship, far beyond our years as a whole, BUT, we all (or most) had the mentality and sense of humor pretty close to the 3 stooges. There were just more of us than them.
AHH memories. The Marching band played all over the place. When "away" games were played, we rode on CTS buses. One game, the "other team" was getting slaughtered, and a few of the band members (taking the 5th here) snuck away from the stands, and let the air out of several of the tires on the buses. Wait, that must have been someone else
. On the way back to Lkwd, we hung uniforms ACROSS the back of the buses, and it was a neck fest back there. Of course, I must have read that somewhere, or something.
When we bailed out of the buses, possibly 50% were fully dressed and proper, the buses smelled like beer and urine. The rest....well..next subject.
Btw, let me remind you the musicianship of the whole band was SUPERB., and I'm sure never duplicated since. Man, the people could play at a professional level ALL the time , but the mayhem existed possibly due to the excellence of the musicians. I have no idea. (To be continued, IF ALLOWED..later. )
