 Me, now |  Me, then |
 Ken(at 8)Dad,the 2 Helens,and Mom |  Me at the keyboard |
(almost) all about me
I was born on December 13, 1924 which makes me (?) years old. I will let you figure it out. I attended Sacred Heart School in Easthampton, and then Easthampton High School. While there,I considered a career in either drafting or music.I chose music, although I sometimes think this may have been a bad choice. Then I went on to study arranging at the New Englanc Conservatory of Music in Boston, (while there I played as a sub with many bands in the Boston Area) until the government hired me to win World War II. After basic training at Camp Croft, South Carolina, I was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in Italy, on Anzio, and on to Southern France. I managed to take out a few tanks, trucks, etc. as bazooka man with the 3rd. When the outfit was off-line, I was the company bugler. When the war ended, I went into Special Service in Frankfurt, Germany, in the music department. This, I must say, was the greatest musical experience of my life. When I got out of the military, I started playing and writing music. Until the last few years, I have played pretty much all over the US, and quite a number of places in Europe. Oh, I forgot to mention that I played trumpet and piano. I started taking piano lessons at the age of three. (only because mom made me practice ! )
I played in all sorts of bands, and have led my own band on and off all through my life.I have done over 150 recording sessions with various groups, and an equal number of television, radio, and concert performances. I have been an arranger since the early 40's, and have had my own writing and arranging service since then,(d/b/a Tempo Music Service,from the 40's, until the mid-eighty's,when I changed the name of my service to the LONE ARRANGER).
My main interest now, is in the big band sound. I am arranging for and conducting the HERITAGE "POPS" ORCHESTRA,(see link) which is a 22 piece group. The band does the sounds of Glenn Miller, James, The Dorseys, and also lot of classical and concert pieces. This band gives me a great amount of satisfaction. (I really wish we could bring back the big band era, at some point in time.)
On December 13, 2005, I reached the wonderful (?) age of 81, and found myself really starting to slow down. I now am Musical Director of the HERITAGE " POPS" ORCHESTRA, and DID have a very talented assistant Director in the person of Mr. Jasper Bowman, who took over the conducting chores when I got tired. Sad to say, Mr. Bowman passed away last fall, and band manager Brian Cervone has taken over conducting the band. I, unfortunately, had a bad fall in September and had some injuries ,then in late November I had a heart attack which has left me very weak.
I still continue to write and edit arrangements for the band,and find myself very fortunate in having two great arrangers, Mr. Ed Manley from Southwick, and Mr. Edwin Zieminsky from Somers, Ct. constantly adding new material to every-growing library. Mostly, I am extremely proud of the fact that the "POPS" is the only band IN THE WORLD playing these particular arrangements.The charts will not be passed on to any other musical organization.
