[Dixielandjazz] Military Music

[Randy Fendrick]

>>> I am a member of the Navy Musicians Association and returned in early July from their annual reunion, held, this year in Virginia Beach, Va.  While there, the commander of the School of Music addressed the attendees about the proposed up-coming cuts, and there is little question in my mind that they will take place.  Unfortunately these cuts are easy for politicians on both sides of the fence to make.  It involves a small group of people, and many people don't understand the meaning or importance of music,  The navy's music program in the 1950's saved my life and allowed me to grow into the man that I became.  But to illustrate what I am referring to, I recall that when I returned to San Diego from the western Pacific in July of 1960, where our band had spent 7 months touring and participating in President Eisenhower's "People To People" program, traveling on 13 ships in 7 months as we played concerts through out Japan, the Philippines, Burma, and India.  As we returned my father was on the dock as our band played popular tunes of the day. After being released we, sailors, left the ship and I met my father and step mother.  My dad, continued to look at the quarterdeck and then asked, son, exactly what do you do in the navy?  Now, he knew what I did, I had graduated from the Navy School of Music and I played in the band.  But, until that moment he had not internalized what that meant.  He then replied, "do you mean that my tax dollars go for you the play in a "f____ing band."  I had never heard my father utter the F-word until that moment.  This came from an old line Roosevelt democrat, who credited the 1930s Democrats with saving this country.  Jazz content, my father, although not a musician was an incredible dancer and I credit him with sparking my interest in jazz music as his favorite tune was Glen Gray's  No Name Jive.
          later,
Randy Fendrick,
Southside Chicago Seven