I have been pretty fortunate throughout my life and I have been able to meet all the right people at the times I needed them most. I won a PTA scholarship that allowed me to study with Walter Laursen who studied with Herbert L. Clarke and he taught me all the cornet solos, and he introduced me to the world of orchestral music by teaching me to transpose and showing me the major orchestral excerpts . Also, Mr. Laursen brought me into the Pasadena Symphony when I was 14 and allowed me to play alongside him. Walt was a very generous teacher. To honor him, I’ve created the Walter Laursen Scholarship Fund at the Thornton School of Music at USC.
At 19, I met the man who really is the main pedagogical influence in my life, James George Stamp. “Jimmy” was a real gentle soul who was really gifted at diagnosing one’s musical issues and created attainable solutions for all woes a brass player suffers. When I think about it, I met him very early and I’ve followed his teaching diligently for over a half century! I truly believe that his guidance was key to my success. (Please stay tuned for very important news regarding Jimmy Stamp!)
In 1964 I went to play in the West Point Band in New York and was introduced to William Vacchiano and John Ware of the New York Philharmonic. I was able to study with both of them while I served at West Point. At the time, these two gentlemen were THE major instructors for students preparing to play in an orchestra. I feel very privileged to have been able to learn from them even though my career path went in a different direction.
In 1969 I returned to Los Angeles, and I began a career that allowed me to play alongside many of my heroes, it allowed me to play with many of the great conductors and composers of all time, and after four decades I’ve been on well over 2,000 film scores.
I enjoy teaching and working with people who are eager to learn how to play efficiently. I look at this as an opportunity to pass on the information that my teachers shared with me, and I also enjoy going out and doing clinics and performances at various schools when time permits.
I also enjoy a great relationship with B&S instruments who make trumpets the old fashioned way-the right way. I knew after meeting Gerhard Meinl that he would be able to create instruments for me that not only had the right sound for my needs, but I also knew that these instruments would play evenly, in tune, and be very responsive. I’ve visited the factory and was so impressed by the lineage and dedication of his workers. Very quickly they were able to produce a line of instruments that completely satisfy my musical requirements.
