He’s also the guy who gave me the “Tuba-American” tag I use on my Facebook page.
Joe is a MONSTER player and I have greatly admired him from the first moment I met him, which was when he showed up with four other tuba players at NYC TubaChristmas costumed like the members of KISS. Also for those who are drum corps fans, he was a star with the Blue Devils and later on worked with the Bushwackers.
Speaking of drum corps instruments, if any of you are in the market, Bushwackers is selling their old horns. Go get one and Google DCA – there’s a ton of those senior corps around the country. I might yet go do that someday if I totally lose my mind and decide to be the oldest contrabass on the field ever.
This is a fascinating thread. Firstly stealing a musical instrument, especially from someone who makes their living playing one, is the lowest of the low. I have numerous professional and semi-professional musician friends and it’s heartbreaking when they lose one of their instruments.
I’ve seen Press Hall a few times over the last 25 years both in New Orleans and on tour. It’s interesting what the son has done with the group.
It is, indeed. I had a post some years ago about Silverman with the link to this video and somebody commented, “Wait. There was a tuba on the stage?” I went with a less… distracting video this time around.
The music I was thinking of was Tea for Two for Tubas
I hope the thefts get traced to a mastermind and three accomplices, to be known as the Tuba Four.
Well, I have it from a reliable source that these thefts actually are for the tubas themselves. A highly involved and totally clandestine plan is in the works to assault Washington D.C. with, “A Million Tuba March”! Upon arrival with much fanfare from the media involving millions of viewers, they plan on marching around the White House seven times before bringing it down with one awesome, coordinated, prolonged blast!
After being rushed to the protected basement area of the White House and having his hair carefully combed back into place, Trump will have to face these people or risk being blown into the Potomac with another mighty blast.
My source in St. Louis says Red is not playing so much these days, but he is pushing 80. From what I’ve seen of his past bookings in recent years, he’s on the “occasional Sunday afternoon” schedule people get on when they’re getting up there. And the Rivermen are playing festivals where they used to work the riverboats and etc. a lot more. I think his last gig was in November.
HOWEVER, he’s still showing up at the butcher shop every day, as he has since always, though his son technically runs the business.
Lehr’s Meat Market
New Athens, Illinois
Here’s a lovely duet – Red Lehr and Gene Pokorny, the tuba player for the Chicago Symphony. Old and dear friends, Gene’s a St. Louis boy. This is Red’s signature tune.
