The Band, Haines and the Civil War

The Band, Haines and the Civil War

By Paul Hobe Often when one imagines a small town in the late 19th and early 20th century in popular culture a shady park or town square with a gazebo or band stand comes to mind. It is estimated that there were ten thousand bands in 1889, a significant number were...
Playing the Trumpet

Playing the Trumpet

By Ralph Holibaugh When it came time for me to choose a musical instrument, the ‘final step’ recommended by Mr. Nash, I remember immediately thinking about the trumpet and two of its players. One was Clyde McCoy, who was famous for recording “Sugar Blues” on Columbia...
It All Started with a Flutophone

It All Started with a Flutophone

By Ralph Holibaugh There was a time when a small pipe with holes became very important to me. It didn’t just drop down from the heavens into my lap, but it was presented to me as part of a system that combined science and art which I knew nothing about. Very slowly I...