There was a period of transition before The Ideals, perhaps highlighted by my final appearance at the Christian speech and music festival. I had chosen to play “Humoresque” on my new tenor saxophone. There was no category for the tune or the instrument. I played without accompaniment. No one else wanted to get involved…
Maybe it was my penchant for rhythm and tempo changes. Maybe it was my new saxophone. Maybe it was my light blue blazer and my dark blue tie. All the above notwithstanding, I was given/allowed 3 minutes and 32 seconds.
I followed Steve Curley that night. His brilliant treatment of a Winston Churchill speech had already wowed the audience. I had a similar moment on another occasion with a great Mark Twain tale about the New England weather, but this time it was me and my horn and Steve wore a gray suit with brown shoes…
I started public school as a sophomore, ostensibly to pursue athletics and grow from the competition and the coaching. It was a great plan. Then, I met Tony.The Ideals (a.k.a. Anthony and The Ideals) were a strange mix. George played great rhythm guitar and sang. He was the consummate entertainer, already seasoned after quitting school before the eighth grade and the first to own his own car. Terry on lead guitar was the quiet one, so patient with us, so tolerant of our sincerity. I honked my way through the tunes, at one point joined by fellow tenor man, Angelo Cibotti. Tony played the drums and sang the ballads, putting runners in the stockings of countless chicks in those Philly clubs who mistook us for legal age.
At one point, we actually recorded. With stars in our eyes, Terry’s father provided the studio time, the tunes and the singing courtesy of the Morris brothers. RecoArt Studio in Philly was a very prestigious place at the time, and the Morris brothers were there to lead and give guidance to ‘The New Twist’.
Later, Terry became a part of The Philadelphia A’s, a group whose following, among other things, sought to be spit upon from the stage and generally abused. Finally, Terry had his revenge. I have since worked with Terry and I am thankful the spitting was only a phase…