This is the AIRMEN OF NOTE, the jazz orchestra of the United States Air Force Band, Washington D.C. That's me in the front row on the far left, with my alto saxophone.

The photo was taken in 1967 at the State Department, Washington D.C. at a concert. The band performed all over Washington D.C., at the White House, and toured nationally. This is the band that the immortal band leader and trombonist Glen Miller started during his Army Air Corp days during world war II. After Glen Miller mysteriously disappeard over the English Channel in 1944, the band continued on and still continues to serve stationed at Bolling Air Force base, Washington D.C. And as custom dictated, our first number was Glen Millers original composition, the famous tune, "SERENADE IN BLUE", with the clarinet leading the sax section. The tune was Glen Millers theme song used by him with his own bands during his successful career as one of the giants of the big band swing era. "SERENADE IN BLUE" is probably the most famous big jazz band tune ever recorded.

Before I joined the AIRMEN OF NOTE, I was a clarinetist with the United States Air Force symphonic band. The "NOTE" were the stars of the band squadron and all of the players on the band either stayed on until retirement, or got out and after discharge, continued playing professionally in such places as Las Vegas, Hollywood California, New York and everywhere. The guitarist in the photo is Bob Mann, a well known New York Studio musician and arranger. Many of these musicians went on to college teaching.

If you want to see the full pixel photo (552 KB - huge but very clear- very slow to download), click here - PHOTO

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