Navy Music

Boot Camp:

After I enlisted at Philadelphia, PA, I went to boot camp at the U.S. Naval Training Center in San Diego, California. I enlisted as an Airman Recruit, and hoped to be an Air Traffic Controller. I also intended to audition for the Navy Band after enlistment. I auditioned with the Bandleader at the Naval Base San Diego, and was eligible to attend the USN School of Music in Washington DC. As graduation neared, there were no openings at the Air Traffic Controller school, and they said I would have to extend my enlistment for the AC Rating, so I went to the School of Music. Glad I did!

U. S. Navy School of Music:

I graduated from the U. S. Navy SOM in 1961 when it was at the Anacostia Receiving Station in Washington D.C. The highlight for me was The Corner House and George's Singapore Slings. And the "Little Tavern" on the corner by the 11th Street Bridge - bags of those little hamburgers - yes. I'll never forget the first time I heard progressive Jazz by a professional group. Bob Hores took us to Abart's International Studio of Jazz downtown to hear Horace Silver. WOW! Barsamian was my piano instructor - can't remember my drum instructor's name. Hey, and John Coltrane went to SOM, and to The Melody Masters" unit band in Hawaii in 1946 - wow.

Sea Duty:

After I left SOM, I was assigned to COMCARDIV 4 Unit Band #194: MUC Joe Gallagher (bandleader); Ken Poorman (keys), Bob Bowman (bass), Steve Bergstrom (drums); Bob Hores (arranger), John "Sal" Salazar, Jerry Brown, Jack Caldon & Alfred Hodge (saxes); Jack Ingram (LPO), Paul Sipe, DJ Dechesser, Larry Treaster (trombones); Bob Migacz, Harold "Shorty" Parker, Joe Pryor, Ted Zelio & Ray "Corky" Corcoran (trumpets).

We relieved COMCARDIV 4 Unit Band 146 on USS Forrestal CVA-59. Members of that band were MUC Quinten H. Reitzel (bandleader); Renick Ross (piano), Al Bouton (bass), Gus Smith (guitar), Wilbur "Tiger" England (drums); Bob Dennard, Roy Weaver, Gerry Crossman, Phil Letcher & Al Pina (saxes); Pete Terpatsi, Jim Langan, John Vanderwest & Hans Leer (trombones); Danny Masse, Tom "Spike" Reighart, Ted Zelio, Richard Coxwell & Hank Howard (trumpets). Ted Zelio had to stay on with the Unit Band 194 until his replacement, Corky Corcoran, arrived to relieve him. I remember that Ted was pretty happy about that - Ha.

In 1963 after we left UB 194, it was replaced by: MUC Eugene McGowan (bandleader); J Alkana, J Williams, G Pierce, J Bleile & E Coleman (saxes); R Harkness (guitar); R Dorn, D Pavolka & J Branam (T-Bones); R Meese (bass); M Perry, B Bradley, R Turk & B Schaff (trunpets).

Collateral Duty Assignments

During at-sea operations, musicians were trained and assigned to collateral duty, such as Military Police, Air Intelligence (security clearance required), Surface Plotting, and Flag Administration. I served in each of these billets at one time or another. I found my work in the Air Intelligence message center most interesting, then surface plotting, I suppose. The MP duty was linited pretty much to in-port ship parties, and flag administration was basically putting presentations together for the Admiral and other senior officers.

Shore Duty:

After I left Admiral Hyland's COMCARDIV 4 band (he invited me to go to Viet Nam with him - but I would have had to extend), I went to the CINCLANTFLT band in Norfolk to finish my active duty. It has changed its name twice since then - now the Atlantic Fleet Band. The Bandleader was Warrant Officer George Briley. They sent units on tours, and we did colors and taps every day, concerts, and gigs. I played mostly drums there on official gigs, and Kenny Drew did most of the keyboard gigs. (I know, there's several Kenny Drews playing keyboards. Can't find a link to mine.) I played keyboards in two cilvilian combos, and did a lot of off-duty gigs around Tidewater. Mr. B said he would guarantee me shore duty for the next 6 years if I would ship over. HA! Bye Mr. B. . . finished out inactive reserve and discharged in '66.