MUs in the Lone Star State

Never been to Texas. Big place, I understand.

So it figures a lot of former MUs would be from, or live in, Texas.

Two of my old shipmates, NMA regulars Doyle Church and Tex Waldron are from the Lone Star State.

Now, Juan Villapando, who lives in Corpus Christi, tells me he'll be coming to the reunion with, he hopes, a few more MUs. He says there are a few right it San Antonio, too.

It's roundup time.

The Blogging Lamp is Lit

The 2010 Navy Musicians Association reunion is only weeks away.

I'll be "live-blogging" the upcoming reunion, June 23-26, at the Doubletree Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. Here at Navy Lyres, I'll post highlights of each day's activities, including

• hi-tech photos.
• low-tech videos.
• high-energy jam sessions.
• low-life bull sessions.
• assorted reports, rumors and revelations.

Commencing immediately, I'll blog daily. Stop by any time, check it out, leave a message.

 ..............DISCLAIMER..............

Following NMA reunions at Navy Lyres should never be considered a substitute for actual attendance. Navy Lyres proudly follows the MU's Creed: "What happens on the road, stays on the road."

First timers

So much of the joy of attending a Navy Musicians Association involves new relationships. I'm looking forward to seeing Dennis Bear, Ralph Hasty, John Branam, Jim McConnell and scores of others, none of whom I knew in the service, but all of whom have become my shipmates in the last few years.

But there's a lot to be said for old buddies, too. Two shipmates from my first band, Navy Band San Francisco, in the mid-'70s, will be attending their first reunions in a few weeks.

Guitarist John Derby and I played together in Showband West. In fact, many would say we were Showband West. Well, I can think of two people who would say that.

(I hope you caught the magic word in the previous paragraph: "guitarist." It's been years since we had a real, Navy guitar player in attendance. I suspect we've all pretty much had enough of me and my E7 chord--see video, below right).

John is starting to play again after years of being away from the guitar. He blogs about this at Who Moved My Chops?

Dave Whitaker was the drummer and singer with San Francisco's Big Band. I'm glad Dave is coming, though I'm deeply hoping that he has given up the habit of reciting lengthy Richard Prior routines. Deeply hoping. Very deeply.

My advice to Dave and John is the same you'd give to any newcomers reporting aboard your Navy band:
Check the gig board regularly.

Still the best damn showband in the fleet

I said so a year ago and I'll say it again: Newport's Northeastern Navy Showband is the best. If I'm wrong, if this is an average Navy ensemble, then the Navy's Music Program is in even better shape than I thought.

Here's my old unit (okay, some of these players weren't born when I led the group in the mid-80s), once again in Times Square for Fleet Week.

My San Antonio Trombone