THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, January 10, 2020 Page 9 ASKS | FROM PAGE 8 mous three-year time period [“Siege of Leningrad”] where Germany thought she could beat the people in Leningrad down. So, we performed there, and we marched from the beginning of the cemetery up to the location of the memorial. And there, I could even see an Armenian church, because a lot of Armenians lived in Russia. I could see that they devoted something in this memorial for them, too. Q: Tell me some more interesting stuff about your trip to the Soviet Union. A: We were playing with the Russian Army Band. We did a joint concert, and in preparing for the concert, the two bands played John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” I’m really surprised they knew it. When we were rehearsing in the same room, both bands played that number. It wasn’t part of the concert, but in the friendship manner, they played that number. I think they appreciated the American march music. Q: And that happened 30 years ago. A: Thirty years ago. I wish it were 30 years ago. Q: So, what song did you enjoy the most? A: I don’t have a favorite. I enjoyed all the numbers I played – many, many patriotic numbers – “The Star Spangled Banner.” I must have played that song the most times. I played at so many military functions throughout the country. I played a lot of numbers. I played for a Russian general. I played at a political function for [Bill] Clinton. We never got involved politically. Q: So, what’s your best memory as a Saugus native? A: Oh, playing in the High School band – the great exposure I got to music. You keep the memories when you are young. Q: And you played the saxophone and the clarinet at Saugus High? A: No, just the clarinet. Well, I did play saxophone on the side when I did a High School dance. That I would do, but I had to borrow somebody’s saxophone. Actually, you didn’t have to study it; if you played clarinet, you could play the saxophone. Q: And then you played clarinet in the Army. A: Before I went in the Army, I played clarinet. And while in High School, I played clarinet and I could play a couple of dances. Q: But in the Army band, you played … A: Clarinet and saxophone – actually, three diff erent instruments – several types of saxwww.reverealuminumwindow.com ophones. They called it a baritone-type sax. And we would do special shows for the Army. You know, in the RKO Theatre they’d have a band come on the stage. Well, that’s what we did. We put on a show. Q: So in addition to being a musician, you were a guidance counselor for many years at the High School. Right? A: A guidance counselor; that was my career. Actually, I was a musician and a guidance counselor. Both. But professionally, I was a guidance counselor. Those days are gone. Just about everybody I knew, from superintendents to principals – most of them have all passed away. Everybody I know my age has just about passed away. My days are limited, but I try to keep busy. Q: Do you still play an instrument now? A: No. I don’t play anything anymore because I can’t go to rehearsal. I lost my lip because I don’t play anymore. I just don’t get together anymore. Some of the groups I used to play with still play every morning, like in Wakefi eld – the Wakefi eld Men’s Club. We were the band for the Wakefi eld Men’s Club. Q: Anything else that you would like to share about your career or Saugus? You were a Town Meeting member, huh? A: Yes. That was nice. Q: How many years? A: Only a few years. I didn’t have time. I was so busy. Q: So, what precinct? A: Precinct 6. Same precinct. I lived up the street. Q: Any other town offi ces that you held? ASKS | SEE PAGE 10
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