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About 170 of my first performances were in Church! Most
of these were at the Brentwood Presbyterian Church, where I regularly
participated with the Youth Fellowship. Gil Fitzsimmons was the pastor, my
mentor, friend, and guy who ran the church and Fellowship. Some of my best
friends including Lana Payne, Joy Morgan, Sue Morgan, Lynn Foster, Patty
Wilmot, and many others were there, and participated on all the retreats
and trips, which included the 'college tour', which was a 3
day trip of many area colleges. Drum Set in
Church
My years in high school coincided with the
'folk rock years' of small ensembles for mass and for services, giving me
one of my first performance outlets on drum set, which augmented marching,
classical, and school band gigs. Drummers were plentiful in the days of:
Iron Butterflys' Ina Goda Divida, but finding drummers to control the
reverberance of the large churches was tough. I had a little corner on
that market, because of my musical taste, control, and my good sounding
drums. I remember a time that one kit was set up in one place, and another
elsewhere. (the only time I can remember that happening) My best drum kit
was my Whitehall set which my parents got for Christmas one year. The
second kit was one that was being thrown away. It was the first instrument
that I ever reconditioned. I made a little money from time to time by
fixing and detailing old kits. Both kits were always tuned with good
heads, and sounded great. Some of the tunes I remember: Desi Derada. Both
Sides Now, I am a Rock, and many I can't remember right now. If you were
there and remember, give me a quick note at: [email protected]
The Little Drummer Boy
One of the specialty gigs I did was doing the: Little
Drummer Boy playing an antique marching snare drum, (that I
reconditioned and refinished) down the center of the church. My start of
solo drumming now that I think about it!
Christmas Quartet
Another one of my church gigs that we took 'on the
road', was our Christmas Quartet. Our wonderful band director from
high school: Thomas
Booth, hooked us up with little books of Christmas carols, and we played
every tune in the book. The four of us were accomplished players, and with
these good arrangements, we were a big hit everywhere, including playing
for the children at Saint Basils in Carrick and Saint Sylvesters in
Brentwood, and many more schools. We did it for 3 or 4 years, and even
went into our neighborhoods in the evening to play, sometimes making $20
each! Probably my first professional drumming job, now that I think of it.
If you were one of the members, please drop me a line at: [email protected]
,because my recollection is a little hazy, about who participated. Maybe
it was different musicians different years, confusing me a little. Maybe
Tom Gimper on baritone, maybe Eric Bold on trombone, (but, obviously not
the same year)....but trumpet, and saxophone aren't clear.
Tympani and Cymbals embellish Service or Mass
Many gigs picked up along the way, I played
tympani on special holidays to enrich large musical ensembles. I didn't
like being away from family at those special times, but the money was
excellent, and the gigs were fun!
Choral Experience
Youth Fellowship also had a tradition of singing
Christmas Carols in various places, so I participated singing with that
ensemble. I believe the performances were set up as: 'Progressive
Dinners' eating one part of a meal at each home along the way,
and caroling to every party! These were some chop busting nights of
singing!
Another Fellowship
I met a new friend (Joyce Nylander) on a retreat
with Brentwood Fellowship. I think it might have been at Camp Frank T.
Sols. She was from: Lebanon Church Presbyterian, in West Mifflin. Another
church and outlet to perform, and service. Much fun on the work camps,
taking care of the two hundred year old church and cemetery. Also friends: Belinda Richey and Brenda
Peterson won't ever be forgotten. Genuine, decent people and good friends.
Also remembering Don Stoebe, Ginny C?? (we even had sleepovers here, yet I
don't remember) Jim Miller, (first time I ever saw/heard a synth) Cliff
Beatty, Carolyn Crawford, Kim Kerber, Brad Meyer, Diane Simpson, Pete Mazzarini, Bill
Haley, Nina Mallazzo, Liz Minnirelli, many faces, and no names. If
you want to help me remember: [email protected]
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