KHS65 MUSICIANS TOGETHER AGAIN AT HIGH C

Alan Yount has sent us a wonderful anniversary present, which arrived at my house just now, on June 10th, just as the 6:15pm time for graduation exercises to start is about to ding on the old-way-back-machine clock. Alan writes that he and Dennis Winkler, who played 2nd trumpet in Alan's dance band for 4 years, had a "trumpet reunion" recently. Dennis met Alan at Alan's mom's house in Kirkwood where they used to practice and had a jam session! Alan writes "Dennis & I both can hit "high C" again!" Thanks guys sooo much for sharing this.

The story of the trumpets Denny & Alan own is interesting too. For Alan's 60th b'day his wife bought him a 1934 Selmer Paris trumpet, the same kind Louis Armstrong, Harry James & Ray Anthony played during the 1930s. On Armstrong's CD, "Kiss of Fire", he is holding the Selmer Paris on the cover. Alan still has his S/P which he got in 1961. Dennis took his Getzen trumpet to Alan's recently, similar to what Doc Severinson used to play.

Another interesting ditty from Alan that some of you who live in the Kirkwood area might appreciate - Craig Schmitz KHS63 was killed the first week he was in Viet Nam. His name is on the memorial in Kirkwood. He too played in Alan's band, the first 2 years, on drums. The last time Alan spoke with him, just before he went into the Army, he had just graduated from SIU's undertaking school. He told Alan he was not afraid of death or dead people...what an irony!

One of these days we are going to have a KHS65 band playing at some function...my dream! We still have talent hanging around the country. Tomorrow I will see Alan and another KHS65 musician, Dave Beardsley...a bunch of us are having lunch in Jefferson City, should be a great gossipfest, will report on that next week! Again, Happy Anniversary KHS65 and thanks again Dennis and Alan!! Keep hitting those high notes! practice practice practice.....