L.A. Tuba (then and now)--some trivia
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 12:04 am
Tim Reilly recently gave me a copy of the instrument lists from the Los Angeles AFM Local 47 Union Book in 1955. I was astounded that there were 261 names listed under "TUBA". The best known guys from that period were there--guys like George Bouje, Red Callender and Clarence Karella. But so were a 22 year-old Tommy Johnson and Roger Bobo, who was still a teenager. I never heard of 90% of them. The great cartoon voice over artist Mel Blanc was there--so I guess he played the tuba? (see attachment)
The 2014 Union Book has only 100 tuba names.
I think there were many more jobs back then: movies, live TV, radio, record dates, dance bands, dixie bands, orchestras, concert bands.They were mostly union gigs--unlike today. But, like today, most the of tuba players on the list probably were doublers--string bass in those days, bass trombone today. A lot of people list themselves on several instruments in hope of getting more gigs. For the vast majority on the 2014 list, the tuba is their 2nd, 3rd or 4th instrument.
Comparing then and now is a bummer!
Jim Self
The 2014 Union Book has only 100 tuba names.
I think there were many more jobs back then: movies, live TV, radio, record dates, dance bands, dixie bands, orchestras, concert bands.They were mostly union gigs--unlike today. But, like today, most the of tuba players on the list probably were doublers--string bass in those days, bass trombone today. A lot of people list themselves on several instruments in hope of getting more gigs. For the vast majority on the 2014 list, the tuba is their 2nd, 3rd or 4th instrument.
Comparing then and now is a bummer!
Jim Self