Carlisle Bugle / Carlisle Military Scool Newspaper / May 24, 1946When Henry Westbrook brings his 16-piece orchestra to Bamberg to play at the Carlisle Military school dance on May 24 at the Carlisle auditorium, he will bring along Jay Pace and "Sonny" Bull, both alumni of Carlisle Military school.
Henry first played at Carlisle April 28, 1938, and it was then that Jay and Sonny, students at the time, became enthusiastic admirers of the band. Jay soon became a close friend of Ingram Blanding, who was then the drummer with the band. This resulted in a teacher-pupil affair; and not that Blanding has joined the Atlanta headquarters staff of the American Red Cross. Jay has taken over the spot as drummer. While at Carlisle, Pace was on the staff of the school's newspaper and served as captain of the band his last two years.
"I'm glad," says Henry, "that we're able to have Jay with us. Ing feels that as long as jay is with the band, he himself-in a way-remains. they are good friends, they play and act so much alike you'd think Ing was right back there beating out that steady rhythm at which he was so good."
Sonny, too, is a good friend of Jay's, and being a student of the drums himself, he could sit in should the occasion demand it. Inseparable in school, they joined the navy together. However, they were shipped out to different parts of the globe and didn't get to see much of each other during their naval careers.
After being discharged from the navy they again looked each other up. When Sonny learned that Jay was the prospective drummer in Henry Westbrook's band, he also discovered that there was a vacancy for a property manager's position. So-- once again the boys are united. The Westbrook organization has just been reactivated after a three year temporary lay-off. Booking for the orchestra started on April 1, and with the applause of the crowds played to still in mind, members of the band are looking forward to their next engagement in the vicinity of Bamberg.
Emmala Rice and "Buzz" Plemming are vocalist with the band -- and, of course, Henry is still doing his bit in that department too.
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2 comments:
16 piece band?
Man we had trouble just getting the 3 of us anywhere on time, set up and ready to play. Your dad was something else. I've really enjoyed reading your postings.
mb
Thanks Michael. I've enjoyed going through the old band scrapbooks. Dad said his band would fluctuate in size - always changing. I'll post more as I can. There are lots of newspaper articles. I am pulling the ones that seem to tell a little more about the band/members rather than just the event announcements. School has started back up for me and I've got so much studying to do.
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