Special Bands, Special Rules

The U.S. Navy Band and the Naval Academy Band had a tremendous allure for fleet bandsmen, who spent their off-duty hours locked in practice rooms in hopes of, one day, being accepted into one of the "special bands."

Others looked down on these groups. "Special rules" and "special privaleges" held little attraction for hardcore fleet MUs.

Well, there's certainly something special about the Naval Academy Brass Quintet. Have a quick listen to some of their live performance in this video.



Did you notice the broad, full sound, richer and more robust than the sound of most brass quintets.

Did you also notice the group has six players, slightly more than the number found in most brass quintets?

I always thought it was superior musicianship that made the special bands superior. Now I see that it's really special math. Imagine the bold, brassy sound of a seven-man Naval Academy jazz quartet. I'll bet they have to build special extensions on stages to hold an entire Naval Academy sextet.

I wonder how many MUs they schedule for a solo piano gig.

Name the players

Here's a clip of the School of Music Faculty Lab Band playing "Eli's Coming" in early 1986.

I was just leaving SOM for Japan at this time, and don't recall the concert. In fact, I hardly recognize any of the performers. This may be because I'd been too busy concentrating on the physical requirements for Advanced Course students: hiding your head, covering your butt and watching your back.


Army Specialist Bill Maley is the trumpet sololist, a fine and talented fellow. The announcer is another soldier, Charlie Ross, who worked on the third deck in Instrument Repair.

And I recognize the leader, Navy Chief Warrant Officer Larry Gatewood. Oh yes, I certainly do. Yep, I remember him.

But as for the rest--any ideas?

Have yourself a merry little you-know-what.

Greetings to all my shipmates. Even Lee Hudson.

Seventh Fleet Band, 1986-87

Seventh Fleet Band
USS Blue Ridge
Yokosuka, Japan

Bandmasters:
Leo Leary, trombone (Leo H. Leary)
Mike Pesses, french horn

• (Michael Pesses)
• (Mike Burch-Pesses)
• (Michael Burch-Pesses)
• (Thomas M. Pesses)
• (Thomas Michael Burch-Pesses)
• Note: LCDR Pesses was far more decisive than this entry seems to suggest - -
  
  Assistant Leader:
  Jimmy Cabralda (James Cabralda)
  
  Other CPOs:
  Frank Mullen, piano
  Tony Tessitore, saxophone
  Kim Holl, drums
  
  Bandsmen:
  Tom Burkett
  John Engleman, saxophone
  Keith Gardner, trombone
  Richard Kawamura, trumpet
  Jimmy Lamb, trumpet (James Lamb)
  Walt Larkins, trumpet (Walter Larkins)
  George McClinchy, saxophone
  Steve Parent, trumpet
  Dave Schilling, bass
  Bob Stibbe, guitar
  Tom Wholly, piano

Return to My Bands and Shipmates.

Navy Band Newport, 1982-85

Navy Band Newport, 1982-1985
Naval Education and Training Center
Newport, RI

Bandmasters:
Tex Waldron, trombone. (Elliott Waldron)
Terry Chesson, saxophone (Terrence J. Chesson)

Assistant LeaderKen Davenport, trombone, baritone horn.

Other CPOs:
Mike King, drums. (Michael J. King)
Mike Beegle, saxophone
Mike Alverson, vocalist. (J. Michael Alverson)
Rick Fowler, trumpet

Bandsmen
Diane Beegle, vocalist
Kevin Bissell, trumpet
Larry Boozer, saxophone, flute
Steve Bryant, guitar
Matt Coffey, drums
Henry Connelly, bass
Dave Czohara, trumpet
Paula Czohara, saxophone, clarinet
Julia Dean, vocalist
Dave Dekoff, trumpet, guitar
Steve Dimond, guitar
Rich Eastman, guitar, baritone horn
Ed Helm, french horn
Lee Hudson, bass, tuba (Milton Leander Hudson, Worthless Idiot)
John Farquhar, french horn (Mother Farquhar)
Gino Garcia, trumpet (Steve Garcia)
Harry Hansen, tuba
Harry Horton, saxophone
Ralph Ingraham, trombone
Dennis Jansson., trombone
Mike Johnson, piano
Tim Jones, trumpet
Mike Jones, guitar (Snake)
Reid Keiffer, clarinet, saxophone
Randy Kellogg, trumpet
Dave Langett, saxophone
Joel Lewis (Broadway Joe) vocalist
Dave Lock, trombone, bass
Ed LaPierre, trumpet
Johnny Long, saxophone
Walt Larkins, trumpet
Cliff McCoy, saxophone
Frank Mullen, piano
Tom Murphy, trombone
Max Murray, bass, tuba
Steve Parent, trumpet
Steve Patterson, trumpet
Steve Rawson, trombone
Billy Ream, trombone
Ed Rolnick, saxophone, flute
Roger Salls, trombone
George Thompson
Bing Walden, drums
Bill Wissman, trombone
Dale Yager, drums

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School of Music Staff, 1979-81

School of Music Staff, 1979-1981

Faculty Lab Band, c. 1979

Leader:
Roy Mahoney, USN
Rhythm Section:
Mark Adams, USMC, drums
Steve Dimond, USN, drums
Sam Cameron, USMC, drums
Frank Mullen, USN, piano
Saxes:
Sandy Megas, USMC; Dan Bowerly, USMC;
Mike Walker, USA; Doug Dean, USN; Hank Agnew, USN
Trombones
Dave Traub, USN; Jim Miller, USN;
Art Nebel, USA; Joe ???, USA
Trumpets:
Andy Omdahl, USMC; Dave Wert, USMC (Later USN);
Lou Berner, USN; Nancy Wert, USA
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

School of Music Navy Staff

Officers:
Ray Ascione
Paul Clemens
Phillip Field
Dave Kunkel
Thomas Metcalf
Ron van Hoose

CPOs:
Hank Agnew (Henry Agnew), saxophone, clarinet
Marv Akers, tuba, bass
Gerry Amato, clarinet
Dick Brodt (Richard Brodt)
Doug Dean, saxophone
Jack Dye
Paul Geitzenauer (Geitz), trumpet
Roy Mahoney, trombone
Jim Miller, trombone
John Hanson, trombone
Rocky Palumbo, saxophone
John Pastin, saxophone
Jim Thumpston (Thumper, James Thumpston), piano
Dave Traub, trombone
Tex Waldron, trombone
Noonie Wilson, clarinet (it is believed, although there were no witnesses)

Petty Officers:
George Barkus, drums
Lou Berner, trumpet
Steve Dimond, guitar
Dent Donahoo
Frank Jones, flute
Jimmy McCandlish, bass, tuba
Frank Mullen, piano, bass
Billy Ream, trombone
Mike Schiarini, bassoon
Andy Vermiglio, drums
Barney Walker, piano
Carl Wickstrom, baritone horn

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