The Birth of Al’s Pals cont’d

Part 3. Two Problems Before the First Gig

The Amplifier Dilemma

I had two problems to solve before our first gig:

• I needed an amplifier.
• I needed to put together the lead sheets for the set list Chuck had given me.

The amplifier issue was a bit of a pickle. My trusty amp was sitting in storage in Denver, far from reach. I didn’t want to splurge on a new one, so I headed to the local music store and grabbed a small, budget-friendly student model. I thought it would be a temporary fix, but that “temporary” fix ended up lasting nine months! Talk about getting more than you bargained for.

The Lead Sheets Saga

The second problem was the lead sheets. Not exactly rocket science, but definitely a time-consuming task. I had to sift through all my electronic fake books to find the songs. Some versions were better than others, so I spent ages picking the right ones. It was like searching for hidden gems in a sea of mediocrity.

The First Gig

Meeting the Band

I arrived at the Community Center for our first gig, armed with my guitar, a newly acquired amplifier, and a folder of lead sheets.

Chuck, our trombone-playing leader, was the most easygoing band leader I’d ever met. He had a signature sign-off at the end of each gig: “Who has more fun than people?”

Herb, the trumpet player, had a wonderful tone and was a strong player. He carried the melody effortlessly, making playing with him a real pleasure.

Tony played bass. He was a low-key guy with a fantastic sense of humor. Playing with him was a joy because he followed me closely, and we learned a lot from each other.

George was on tenor sax. He knew his instrument inside and out and had such a vast knowledge of songs that he didn’t need sheet music for any of them.

John played the second tenor sax. A career Marine who took up the sax upon retirement, his superpower was his creative use of the F-bomb. He could drop it as a verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, and adverb—all in the same paragraph!

The Band’s First Impression

That was the band for this gig. I didn’t know much about these guys initially because they kept their distance. They looked at me as if to say, “Who is this guy, and what does he think he’s doing here?” That would all change in a few minutes. 

Canadian Sunset: The Moment I Joined the Band

Finding My Groove

We kicked off with the first couple of songs. I kept a low profile, listening to the others and figuring out who was who. I didn’t want to disrupt the flow while I was still getting my bearings. No one seemed to notice me, and that was just fine.

The Turning Point

Then we started playing “Canadian Sunset.” There’s a signature phrase in the original recording that none of the instruments were playing. I listened through the first chorus, waiting to see if someone would pick it up. Nothing. As the second chorus began, I decided to go for it.

When I played that phrase, everyone turned around and looked at me. I saw their expressions and wondered what they were thinking. But as I continued, I saw nods of approval. They realized I could play my instrument and knew what I was doing.

Nancy’s Perspective

Nancy was in the audience and saw their reaction. She told me about it later and asked what had happened. I explained it to her.

Nancy: “It seemed like they didn’t want to know you until that happened. Then, they accepted you.”

Breaking the Ice

I wasn’t sure what was going on when I first arrived. But with that song, everything changed. The ice was broken, and I knew I was going to fit in.

Key Moments:

• Laying Low: Observing and understanding the group dynamics.
• Taking a Chance: Playing the signature phrase in “Canadian Sunset.”
• Gaining Approval: Seeing the band’s positive reaction.
• Nancy’s Insight: Realizing the moment of acceptance.

And that’s how I found my place in the band, one note at a time. 🎶

Marine Master Sergeant John: The Unexpected Bandmate

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

I didn’t know it at the time, but years later, I would come to understand the full story. Over time, John and I developed a pretty solid relationship. His background was military, mine was law enforcement. He’d give me crap, and I’d give it right back. He didn’t intimidate me, and he seemed to respect that I stood my ground.

The Guitar Revelation

One day, John shared a story with me that I’ll never forget:

John: “When you first started here and Chuck told me you played guitar, I thought, ‘Guitar? What the f… are we gonna do with a guitar? That f…ing guy’s just gonna come in here and f… things up. We don’t need a f…ing guitar. Tell him to go the f… home.’”

Me: “Really, John? I had no idea you felt that way.”

John: “Damn right I did. Then, after a while, I found out you could really play. I told Chuck, ‘I’m glad you got that f…ing guitar because that f…ing guy can really play!’”

Me: “Thanks, John. I really appreciate you saying that.”

Building the Band

• Mutual Respect: Our backgrounds helped us understand each other.
• Stand Ground: Neither of us backed down, which built mutual respect.
• Musical Surprise: John’s initial skepticism turned into genuine appreciation.

The Takeaway

John’s story is a reminder that first impressions aren’t always accurate. Sometimes, the very thing you think will mess things up can turn out to be the best addition to the team. And in our case, it was a guitar and a bit of mutual respect that started it all.

To be continued…