Memories of Karl as told by GWP:
I was reading my father's history on the karlandcree web site, and noted that he played a trombone solo in the old Salt Lake Theater while in the band in training at the University of Utah. The name of the song was Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight (for her daddy over there), probably the biggest hit song of 1918. You can listen to it HERE.
Dad was such a good musician. As a child (and even today), I didn't think anyone could touch him musically. He could play the trombone and saxophone so beautifully. I remember asking him on occasion to get the sax out and play it for me, and he did so. I remember him using trombone sheet music to play the sax and vice versa. He directed the Midway Swiss band for many years. I played trombone in that band, and we used to serenade in early mornings for Swiss Days as we rode around the town on a big flatbed truck. We then took part in the parade and later gave a concert on the Town Square. Later, they made a gazebo on wheels specifically for Dad and his band to use for the parade and concerts. That gazebo is still used today and remains parked on the Town Square when not in use.
It's no wonder Dad was chosen as the camp band leader in San Antonio. He told me that, among his other music studies at BYU, he had taken an elective class in transposing music, resulting in his being able to play one instrument using the sheet music for another. I used to sing solos in high school and remember on a number of occasions that Dad would transpose the sheet music to a lower key for my voice. Dad studied at BYU under Prof. Robert Sauer, composer of Springtime in the Rockies. You can see some old photos of the Prof. Sauer and his BYU band HERE. Click on the images to enlarge them.
Dad also played the Hawaiian guitar beautifully. We spent many a night, especially in the winter, playing together--he on the Hawaiian and I on my Gretsch guitar. Whenever I got out my Gretsch and amplifier, Dad would sit and listen to me as long as I would play. He dearly loved the Spanish guitar and could play it as well. As you may remember, he learned to make his own guitars. I still have one he made from a tree trunk he got up Snake Creek. I think it was Quaking Aspen.
Here's a picture of Dad playing his Hawaiian guitar. His paintings are displayed also. Notice his handmade baritone ukuleles and the unfinished guitar next to him on the floor.
I was reading my father's history on the karlandcree web site, and noted that he played a trombone solo in the old Salt Lake Theater while in the band in training at the University of Utah. The name of the song was Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight (for her daddy over there), probably the biggest hit song of 1918. You can listen to it HERE.
Dad was such a good musician. As a child (and even today), I didn't think anyone could touch him musically. He could play the trombone and saxophone so beautifully. I remember asking him on occasion to get the sax out and play it for me, and he did so. I remember him using trombone sheet music to play the sax and vice versa. He directed the Midway Swiss band for many years. I played trombone in that band, and we used to serenade in early mornings for Swiss Days as we rode around the town on a big flatbed truck. We then took part in the parade and later gave a concert on the Town Square. Later, they made a gazebo on wheels specifically for Dad and his band to use for the parade and concerts. That gazebo is still used today and remains parked on the Town Square when not in use.
It's no wonder Dad was chosen as the camp band leader in San Antonio. He told me that, among his other music studies at BYU, he had taken an elective class in transposing music, resulting in his being able to play one instrument using the sheet music for another. I used to sing solos in high school and remember on a number of occasions that Dad would transpose the sheet music to a lower key for my voice. Dad studied at BYU under Prof. Robert Sauer, composer of Springtime in the Rockies. You can see some old photos of the Prof. Sauer and his BYU band HERE. Click on the images to enlarge them.
Dad also played the Hawaiian guitar beautifully. We spent many a night, especially in the winter, playing together--he on the Hawaiian and I on my Gretsch guitar. Whenever I got out my Gretsch and amplifier, Dad would sit and listen to me as long as I would play. He dearly loved the Spanish guitar and could play it as well. As you may remember, he learned to make his own guitars. I still have one he made from a tree trunk he got up Snake Creek. I think it was Quaking Aspen.
Here's a picture of Dad playing his Hawaiian guitar. His paintings are displayed also. Notice his handmade baritone ukuleles and the unfinished guitar next to him on the floor.
also by Deanna Durbin HERE,
also by Nelson Eddy HERE.
Another favorite of his was Just a Song at Twilight. Listen to it HERE.
Another was I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen , by Josef Locke. Listen to it HERE.
And there were many others.
I might mention that I (GWP) also played in the BYU Marching Band (trombone) for two years--1955-56. Dick Ballou was the band director. He actually became the first full-time director in 1953. Under his direction the band became know as the "Incomparable Cougar Marching Band." We had about 110 members.
