Trumpet & Vocals
AKA – Nickname(s):
None suitable for public display, but you can call me Al.
Band member since:
I was there from the beginning when it was just a few guys killing time playing music on the weekend before there even was a horn section. I did take a two-year break in 1986.
The primary function I serve in the band is as:
I play the trumpet.
I can also fumble my way through playing:
Outside of the trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn, I am able to make some kind of noise on most instruments; however, I wouldn’t say that I would perform on any other instrument. I can play a handful of chords on the guitar and sort of keep a beat on a drum kit (of course they both have to be left-handed). Recently acquired a Piccolo Trumpet which is a bit of a different animal than a trumpet.
I started playing music when I was:
It all began in the summer of 1970. I had just turned 11 when I tooted my first notes. I can remember coming home from my first music lesson. I went and sat in my room and kept on playing the one note I learned. It wasn’t a pretty sound either. My trumpet teacher was pretty cool in that he sometimes would play the guitar instead of his trumpet during a lesson to accompany me. It was in the practice room where I also experienced playing in a smoke-filled room -My trumpet teach was a heavy smoker. Little did I know that it would eventually prime me for playing in bars.
I started playing music because:
When asked what got me playing music and why the trumpet. The short answer is I had no choice. My dad essentially mandated “Thou shalt play the trumpet”. This was not negotiable on my part. The plan was for me to play in a German Polka Band; specifically, the Gottschee’r Blaskapelle. It is a 25- piece brass band playing German, and Austrian polkas and waltzes. Most people can identify with a stereotypical German Oom-Pah band. I began performing in bars and dance halls at the ripe old age of 12 and have since had the opportunity to play in Canada, Germany, and Austria. I still perform with them to this day after some 50 years.
If it had been up to me, I don’t know that I would have taken up an instrument – hell that’s a lot of work I came to find. If I had to make a choice on what to play, I would have rather played the Tenor Saxophone like Boots Randolf or the Guitar like Roy Clark (he had that big note guitar book). It wasn’t until high school when I actually began to enjoy the gift I was given. Up until then it was pretty hellish.
Besides Pieces of Eight, I currently perform and/or have performed in these other bands:
Currently perform with the aforementioned Gottschee’r Blaskapelle. You just can’t beat throwing back a few cold ones and playing polkas. Also, I can be found performing with the Stone Pony Band (Springsteen/Southside tribute). I also became involved playing with a newer group currently called Eli’s Coming playing the likes of Three Dog Night, Grass Roots, Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, and some one-hit wonders. A 70’s horn band.
Music is a fun hobby. But in real life in my day job, I am:
A Mechanical Engineer working at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. I work in the Engineering Analysis Unit. Part of my job is to maintain the design and license basis of the plant to ensure the plant runs safely. To date, it’s the only job I’ve had since graduating from college even though the name of the company changed 4 times. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up though.
Outside of performing with the band, I have a life. In my personal life:
I have three children grown and gone, two cats and a bird. The kids think its kind of cool and actually have admitted that they are proud of me when they see me out playing.
When not performing in a band I like to:
Outside of family, work, and music, time is somewhat of a premium although I do enjoy an occasional trip to the golf course to relax. I also enjoy just tinkering around the house and in the garage. In my spare time, I usually try to sleep.
My thoughts on Pieces of Eight are:
About the band, I would say that personal amusement and mutual respect for each other has been an essential ingredient to the longevity (although you would never figure the mutual respect part just by observation). As each year goes by, I reflect on the places we’ve played, the people we’ve met, and wonder how long this ride is going to last. The only thing that’s changed in the last 42 years is that gigs don’t last until 2 am (thank goodness) at after 2am but it gets harder to load that truck afterwards. I had always figured the band would last a year or two until we found something else to occupy our time. Boy was I wrong …
My favorite band related saying is:
Relative to band sayings, two different instances but similar situations resulting in one band quote comes to mind. Not necessarily my favorite but it conjures up memories for most of the band. The first was just before the first trip to Daytona in 1983 when I had noticed a drop of fluid from the rear differential of the first band truck. This led to – “What if the differential burns out on the way to Florida?” The second quote was uttered at the Ferry ramp to Put-in-Bay. I noticed a clicking sound coming from the rear wheels as the truck slowly rolled down the ramp. It was then I mentioned – “What if the wheels fall off the truck on the way home?” I was banned from ever beginning a thought or a statement with “What if…” as in both instances, the consequences occurred as prophesized and are now part of POE lore. Any use of the phrase “what if…” was met with a severe pummeling until it was eventually beaten into obscurity.
My favorite memory of being in the band over the years is probably:
Relative to favorite band memories, there are so many and many more have since faded away. One that stands out is when we played in Munich…no that was with the Brass Band. I don’t know that I have a favorite POE memory although I would say one that sticks out happened while playing at Put-In-Bay’s Boathouse. After finishing the intro to Chicago’s ‘Make Me Smile’ – the horns were so tight and sounded so powerful that the hair on my arms stood straight up. Kinda gives you the same feeling as that perfect Tee shot…only better.
There must have been a million stupid things that have happened over the years that would only make sense to someone present and in the same juvenile state of mind. (for example, Dan accidentally hitting Bob in the forehead with a bottle cap during a dinner. It stuck there for a moment and made a funny sound when it hit him. That coupled with the look on Bob’s face caused half the band to go into complete hysterics while the other half thought we were certifiably nuts.) This list could go on and on. I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve had stomach aches just from laughing so hard.
Of course, with all the laughter and silliness, there has been the loss as well. RIP Rob and Mike
Oh, I almost forgot, I wanted to add:
“Never stop enjoying the things that began as your destiny, for it is that which keeps you from losing your mind” …al – 2005