Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 2, 2022 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Remembering Tony Barrie – the renowned bandleader – who made music until he turned 100 Editor’s Note: In July of last year, we sat down with Tony Barrie – the legendary leader of the Tony Barrie Marching Band – which had performed in numerous parades throughout Greater Boston since 1949 and was considered the longest runGerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Dan 1972 R.Y.O. TOBACCO ---------TUBES CIGAR SMOKERS DELIGHT! 15 Handmade Cigars - Long Leaf - individually wrapped plus a $19. Surprise $43.95 ning independent band in the region. Barrie, who was born Anthony Bicchieri, celebrated his 100th birthday shortly after the interview (Friday, July 9). The Boston native had lived in Saugus since 1949. He was an ensign in the U.S. Navy and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1943 from Tufts University. He went on to work for 44 years as an engineer at GE in Lynn, where he taught quality control and was a supervisor. But he had another, more fun job in music as the leader of a dance band and a marching band. His music career spanned more than 80 years. He was an accomplished musician playing the violin, saxophone and clarinet and went on to be the featured singer with many top big bands who regularly performed at popular venues throughout New England. He and his wife, Ann (Matrona) Bicchieri, were married for 73 years and had three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Ann, a member of the Saugus High School Class of 1944, is the daughter of the late Arthur Matrona, a concert clarinetist. Tony and Ann lived in the same house Our 50th Anniversary Chris 2022 We Sell Cigars & Accessories Buy Cigars by the Box & SAVE! Competitive prices on all Brands, Great Selection ~ September Special ~ Buy one Large Bag of Smoking Joe, Get a Second bag FREE! * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday & Holidays: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Bristow Street that she grew up in and has lived in all of her life. She plays the piano. Tony sang at St. Margaret’s Church in Cliftondale for 20 years. Although it’s been years since Tony marched with his band or performed with the dance band, he would sing whenever he got the chance – at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Their three children are son Anthony aka “Tony Bari” of Bermuda and his wife Marlene, daughter Anne Migliaccio and son-in-law Salvy from Lynn, and daughter Jane Jepsen from New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Margaret’s Church (431 Lincoln Ave., Saugus, Mass.). An hour of visitation will be held in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home (549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus) today (Friday, Sept. 2) from 11 a.m. to noon. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home at noon. Some highlights of last year’s interview follow. Q: So, please tell me about the love of your life and how you met your wife, Ann. A: At the Totem Pole Ballroom. That’s where I got the surprise of my life. In ’47, I was on top of the world: no ties, no responsibilities. I had my orchestra. I was a chemical engineer at GE. It was a beautiful life. I was 26 years old. I played my violin, saxophone and clarinet. I was having the time of my life. Here’s the shocker: I’m singing there in the Totem Pole Ballroom one night; suddenly, I focused on one girl. That was unlike me. I never bothered with girls. There she was, dancing with a date, having a wonderful time. I lost her in the crowd, but when I got home, I couldn’t get her out of my mind – a girl – and I never bothered with girls before. A few weeks later at the parking lot of GE, I was introduced to a girl. It was this girl who worked in GE in the building that was joined to my building. She worked in the payroll department. And there started a courtship that lasted for two years. We continued the courtship, and the gentlemanly thing to do was to tell her I care about her, so I resorted to music. I chose a song that expressed my view as well as I could. There we were at the back stairs of her home in the wee hours of the morning. And I said, “Ann, I have something to say,” and I ADVOCATE ASKS | SEE PAGE 5 The late Anthony L. Bicchieri – also known as Tony Barrie – the long-time leader of the Tony Barrie Marching Band, during an interview at his Bristow Street home in July last year just before his 100th birthday. Bicchieri died last Sunday (Aug. 28) at age 101. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler)
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