TennTux Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 OK, I'll chip in - born in Stoughton MA where he lived near Tony and Neal Smith of BAC, BD, North Star fame. Most of the people who know and love this guy don't associate him with Boston area drum corps. He made his mark (much) further South... Who's next? OK.... I'll give it a go. In 1959 joined the Golden Rays Junior Drum Corps of Stoughton, Mass. serving in a number of capacities ranging from Drum Major to french horn bugler until he joined the Unites States Marine 8 and I Drum Corps in Washington D.C.in 1968 where he performed with them til 1970 as a French horn bugler. While stationed in Washington he also performed with the Yankee-Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps in the same capacity. Following the 1970 season he joined the Reading Buccaneers Drum Corps and performed with them as both French horn and Mellophone through the 1976 season and again from 1988 through 1999. He has also performed competitively with the Long Island Sunrisers in 1990. He put in 2 stints with the Archer-Epler Musketeers from 1975 through 1981 and again from 1984 through 1995. He has served as the Brass Arranger for the Royaleer Mounties from 1974 through 1976 and for St. Rose of Lima in 1976 and 1977. Administratively He's served the Reading Buccaneers as their Business Manager in 1996 and as their Assistant Director in 2002 and 2003. Not mentioned above is his tenure with Swing House and currently performing with the Buccaneers Alumni.... (And I think he's been asked by just about every Alumni Corps to perform with them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennTux Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 And then there's all of the Hall of Fames he a member of as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajlisko Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 And then there's all of the Hall of Fames he a member of as well... ... most recently the Buglers Hall of Fame ... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennTux Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 (edited) ... most recently the Buglers Hall of Fame ... :-) As seen in this photo..... This photo was taken about 10 mins after he was presented with well deserved award. Maybe we can have some bonus answers? 1, Where / when did our GW subject receive his award? (seen in this photo) 2, Who presented him with this award? Edited June 12, 2013 by TennTux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Priester Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 OK.... I'll give it a go. In 1959 joined the Golden Rays Junior Drum Corps of Stoughton, Mass. serving in a number of capacities ranging from Drum Major to french horn bugler until he joined the Unites States Marine 8 and I Drum Corps in Washington D.C.in 1968 where he performed with them til 1970 as a French horn bugler. While stationed in Washington he also performed with the Yankee-Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps in the same capacity. Following the 1970 season he joined the Reading Buccaneers Drum Corps and performed with them as both French horn and Mellophone through the 1976 season and again from 1988 through 1999. He has also performed competitively with the Long Island Sunrisers in 1990. He put in 2 stints with the Archer-Epler Musketeers from 1975 through 1981 and again from 1984 through 1995. He has served as the Brass Arranger for the Royaleer Mounties from 1974 through 1976 and for St. Rose of Lima in 1976 and 1977. Administratively He's served the Reading Buccaneers as their Business Manager in 1996 and as their Assistant Director in 2002 and 2003. Not mentioned above is his tenure with Swing House and currently performing with the Buccaneers Alumni.... (And I think he's been asked by just about every Alumni Corps to perform with them.) Ah, all the news that "fits". Thanks Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 OK, I'll chip in - born in Stoughton MA where he lived near Tony and Neal Smith of BAC, BD, North Star fame. Most of the people who know and love this guy don't associate him with Boston area drum corps. He made his mark (much) further South... Who's next? Wow... I had no idea he was born in Massachusetts!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayfallon Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 As seen in this photo..... This photo was taken about 10 mins after he was presented with well deserved award. Maybe we can have some bonus answers? 1, Where / when did our GW subject receive his award? (seen in this photo) 2, Who presented him with this award? Oooh oooh, Mr Kotter, I know this one... ooh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 (edited) Our current photo subject entered the DCA I&E competition on both French horn and mellophone several times. One year... might have been a couple of years, I'm not sure... he played a piece from the jazz trombone virtuoso Bill Watrous called "Fourth Floor Walk-Up"... an insanely difficult chart. Our subject played this piece on a valve-rotor Frenchie, one of the toughest marching brass instruments to control (I know that from experience, and have the battle scars to prove it... LOL) ... and pretty much nailed it. He was, and still is, an unbelievable midrange player. Edited June 12, 2013 by Fran Haring 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayfallon Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 (edited) To really appreciate this guy's artistry you have to hear him play his own arrangement of Bill Watrous' "4th Floor Walkup" on the key of G French horn with slip slide. You could put this rendition alongside John Simpson's Rhapsody in Blue" or Tom Martin's "Fox Hunter" or for that matter Ruben Ariola's "Die Fledermaus" as the classic all-time I&E solos. Throw in Manny Salort's "William Tell Overture" too. And Patrick Tully's "Blue Bells of Scotland" His playing will leave you breathless, but the thing about this GW subject, he's a better guy than he is a player. Just the best human being you could ever march or play with. A guy who understands and values the aspect of Drum Corps that makes it different than any other, the level of teamwork. Along with Frank Dorritie, Tom Martin, Bill Hightower, Jim Brady, Ruben Ariola, just the finest brass player I've had the joy of hearing. Edited June 12, 2013 by rayfallon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) His playing will leave you breathless, but the thing about this GW subject, he's a better guy than he is a player. Just the best human being you could ever march or play with. A guy who understands and values the aspect of Drum Corps that makes it different than any other, the level of teamwork. Along with Frank Dorritie, Tom Martin, Bill Hightower, Jim Brady, Ruben Ariola, just the finest brass player I've had the joy of hearing. Every time he plays the National Anthem at an indoor show that I'm working... Dixie Stinger, Bucs' Spring Preview, wherever... I always joke with him about how he wants to be introduced: Archer-Epler Alumni, Rebels Alumni, Bucs Alumni, or all of the above and more. He's too humble to let me introduce him as "Brass God"... but he deserves to be! Edited June 13, 2013 by Fran Haring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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