Digital files provided by Bruce Daggett



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Spring_Festival_Back

Enhanced cover photo.  Click for higher resolution.

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Comments

Record Album – “Spring Festival” — 9 Comments

  1. Dan,
    Ignore what I commented before. First, this is wonderful (the 1970 vinyl recording); a sound-documentary of Duke’s legacies’ toward his final years, but the internet files are fabulous, and far beyond what I could have provided by my hard-drive. My deepest appreciation for what you’ve committed to doing–affirming Duke’s deepest commitment to a VF legacy that he himself created (by being Duke), and a remembrance for those who experienced it. Warmest regards. Dan Witter

  2. Dan, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Bru Daggett and John Hoffman for their leadership of plebes. Bru was amazing (as was his brother, a fabulous t-bone/euph soloist with a major military band–I didn’t know his, but knew of his reputation), and John’s leadership and attention to detail served every one of the players in his VF big band. Good grief, John’s band could have wowed cruise ship audiences from 1969 til now. Thanks for your efforts in documenting Duke’s legacy.

  3. Thanks, Dan! I appreciate your kind words. Bruce Daggett sent me these audio files ages ago and restoring them has been challenging and fun, though labor intensive. Eventually, I’ll get all of the items posted from all of the contributors.

    And thank you again for providing me with the files that you’ve provided.

  4. Dan, Of course, I meant to compliment Bru and John on their incredible commitment (not “ignore” my previous compliment to them–great guys; gosh, I remember fighting the flu in John’s top rack while listening to big band recordings with John changing the tracks; and Bru’s great smile and humor (and incredible sax playing!–and good night, could he play bass drum). As for the tracks (marches), listen to Brian Moran on the glockenspiel (sp?); from my spot in the marching band (with Duke a few paces away!), I’d watch both Jerry Maynard and Brain, wondering, “How the heck do they do that?!…Jerry with the mace manual, and Brian with his astonishing accuracy on the bells. Remarkable. Spectacular re-production of the tracks by Bru. Best, Dan.

  5. I knew both Bruce and Bill. Bill called his Baritone “Susie.”
    Many of good time on leave with Bill.
    Band Sir ’65 JC!

  6. I just noticed that Brian Moran mentioned he didn’t have a lyre when playing glockenspiel on Spring Festival! Impossible. His accuracy sounds like the famous Merry-Go-Round at Hershey Park, PA. I’ve lived in Missouri for the past 40 years, but remember that amazing automated calliope whenever our family could afford the occasional trip to Hershey PA. That was Brian. Too, Brian had 2 enormous horse-hair tails hanging off both sides of his glockenspiel–must have increased the weight by 15 pounds. Amazing. Best. Dan. p.s. It was intimidating to have Duke marching immediately to your (my) right, playing in his ear. Perhaps only Jim Bedison (drum)and I know that sense of, “I’m dead, or I’m gonna be stuck for 25 and 25” after each parade. Bedison and I (and Tim Long) played in the Penn State Concert Blue Band together a brief time in 1972 before I had to drop out because my graduate studies demanded I put the horn down. My audition for PSU with Dr. Dunlop was playing the rapid passage from Purple Pageant. I hadn’t prepared, and had mushy chops–yet Dr. Dunlop looked at me and asked, “You played for Col. Feltham?”–to which I responded “yes.” There were a lot of trombone music majors who would have killed for the spot that Dr. Dunlop gave me in his concert band, on Duke’s reputation. I did drop out shortly thereafter; and he read my letter of explanation to the band, saying he expected that level of commitment from every band member, never mentioning my name, of course. Major college bands are fabulous as was PSU’s. I’ve kept in occasional tough with Tim, but lost track of Jim.

  7. This is the 1967 -1968 Band with Kirby Sheffer as Band Captain. You have 1SG Dave Pickel next to him in the front row, and LT Carey May on the right end. Looks like LT Bill Taney as the first fanfare horn on the left. Tim Sasser was the Drum Major. I was the only high school officer that year, which was quite a departure because I was the Regimental Publications Officer. I doubt anything like that happened again.

  8. Very impressive performance and reproduction of the performances, especially if this was a digitized recording of the analog LP shown on the webpage! I know digitizing vinyl LPs is a s-l-o-w, painstaking labor of love. Thank you to the performers and the person/people putting in the work to share this online.

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