BAT in the band!

[TUBAD83]

I was looking for vids of Sinatra and found the following video--Frank sounded great of course, but did not expect to see a BAT in the band! Check it out and see if you can ID the make/model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0_S62E2 ... re=related" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[toobagrowl]

I'm not 100% sure, but it looks like Don Butterfield playing a Martin bell-front BBb.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

That is indeed Don Butterfield, but with his recording bell King (1241/2341?)!

[Paul Scott]

That is Don Butterfield and he's playing a large detachable-bell 3-valve King BBb, not a Martin. It was an unusual instrument, bigger than the typical King and I believe his had been a military instrument at one time. I studied with him around the time of this concert and I recall the event. He also used a smaller one-piece bell King BBb that he called the "Strad"; still later he called it "Old Deuteronomy". The horn in the video was one that he used quite a bit in lessons at that time.

I recall when he got the job with Sinatra. It was quite funny because the week before he got the job, Sinatra's name came up and Don had nothing good to say about him. After he was hired Don couldn't sing his praises enough. I'm sure anyone out there who remembers Don will smile at this point....