"The power of music"

[oldbandnerd]

90 year WWII vet. trumpet player. "The power of music"

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2e2_1283181674" target="_blank

[bort]

Very cool. Besides the war story aspect of things, I always find it motivational and inspirational to see very old people playing musical instruments.

I used to play with a band in Baltimore that had originally started as an activity through the county department of aging. Most of the members were old, though some were very old (a bass clarinet player I think was about 95 and a trombone player who was well into his 80s. He had an old King Silversonic he had bought new like 50 years ago. Way cool.)

Anyway, I hope I can be that lucky to play (anything!) when I'm that old! 61 years to go!

[David Richoux]

The trumpet player in my jazz band served on an Escort Carrier in the Pacific during WW2. Besides his duties as an engine repairman, he also played in an unofficial on-board swing/jazz combo.
He has often told us this story: On Christmas morning, 1944 (after many weeks at sea) he had the watch duty in one of the engineering rooms, where the band stored their instruments. At about 0400 (4 AM) he decided that the ship needed something special for Christmas, so he got out his trumpet, turned on the ship's communication system and played a swinging, extra long version of Reveille!
He says he did not get into too much trouble for doing that, nobody could actually "prove" he did it - even though he was the only trumpeter/bugler on the ship

[TubaBobH]

Not only was that a touching video, but it also gave me cause to fondly reflect on my father for a few minutes. He was also a WWII veteran, and he played the French Horn right up to his death 13 years ago, at age 85. Thanks for posting the story.