Recollections - April Photos Revealed
BOLLING AFB, D.C. --
The picture this month is the Concert Band Dixie Ensemble, performing the Dixie portion of "A Clarinet Chronology". They are (L to R): Jim Murphy, Jim Hutchinson, Keith Young, Bruce Bevans and Walt Johns. The group normally played a Dixie segment written into many of the Singing Sergeants medleys. However, Vince Arquillo was the normal clarinetist in the group and this was the only piece on which he did not play clarinet with the Dixie group.
--Senior Master Sergeant (Ret.) David Boltz, USAF
The photo in the April Cadenza is a performance of Floyd Werle's "A Clarinet Chronology" with Jim Murphy as clarinet soloist. He is joined by members of the Band's Dixieland section of the composition.
--Colonel (Ret.) Arnald D. Gabriel, USAF
Additionally, Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Johnny Woody was helpful with this month's Recollections photograph. He was one of the first Cadenza readers to email identifying information. Last month, Chief Woody attended a performance by The United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants during their 2010 Spring Tour. He met the Band at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and was kind enough to chat with many of us prior to the concert. It wasn't long until a large group formed around him to hear his "war stories" from his 24 years in the Band--13 of which were as principal French Horn.
That evening's concert included Claude T. Smith's "Festival Variations", a piece Chief Woody knew well. He noted, "The horn part to 'Festival Variations' was written for me because Claude Smith and I were in the same horn section at Kansas University. He said that he wrote the part to pay me back for kicking him off of first chair. He paid me back big time. We performed that piece 65 times in 2 1/2 years. We took the piece on 5 tours".
The Cadenza and "Recollections" has allowed us to reconnect with so many USAF Band alumni including Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Johnny Woody. My sincere thanks to everyone who has sent information that helps find the 'behind the scene' stories on the photographs in our archives. It often seems that one story leads to another and it's an honor to hear from all of you. If you have any information or photos you would like to share, please email USAFBandhistorian@usaf.af.mil