I’ve got a little personal story to tell about this group. One of the last musical events I participated in during my time at Holy Cross was a Stage Band concert that we presented to Dominican High School in New Orleans (an all-girl school). There was no pressure at this event. It was all just for fun – icing on the cake, so to speak. I believe some ex-Holy Cross band members were in attendance; at least Marco Mannino was there for sure. It was a mixed crowd of Dominican students and staff, and who knows who. I don’t know the story behind the event. I do not know whether this was a regular event for Holy Cross, and just the first one I participated in (?) – I just do not know. Anyway, Mr. Mannino had us do a typical three-song set. For this event (for whatever reason) I brought my banged up old Besson trumpet (pictured below).  This is the one that I bent the mouthpiece tube because I had (have) a terrible overbite, and this bend helped me get the horn out of the ground to project my sound without cranking my neck backwards. So we came to the third song in the set. For some reason, maybe because this was a “just for fun” event, I was feeling pretty good that day. We came to the end of the last song, and I was asking myself whether I could pull off a screaming high note to dust off the piece. Came to the end, and I took my chances, reached down deep and popped off a high-F (I think).  I still have this memory in my mind: Prof was directing us, and came to the final note, I hit the high-F, and he just turned his head in our direction (towards the trumpet section) and gave a big smiling “Ohhh” look at us. I hit that bastard note square on, and held it for the duration. At the end of the piece as the audience applause was subsiding, several band members turned around to give me a nod of approval. Honestly, I wasn’t after anything but putting a nice touch to the end of the tune, if I could. I “felt good” at the moment, and let it rip. I was pleased that I hit the note square, and didn’t produce a big flat clam that would just sour everything up. As soon as the show was over, Marco practically ran over to inspect my tired old Besson instrument. He looked at the bend in the mouthpiece tube, and I swear, he said “There must be something about the constriction in this bend that helps hit those high notes.” I just stood there kind of flabbergasted; I got zero recognition from Marco for the modicum of talent that I exhibited that afternoon with that one screamer note – not that I was looking for any, believe me. I was just having a good time. I just found it so interesting that Marco could only attribute the hitting of that note to the bend in the tube of my instrument! Fun times!

I’m just having fun with this little story. I have a GREAT deal of respect for Marco’s playing ability. I always enjoyed listening to him play, and hearing him on the 1968-69 Holy Cross LP album is always a pleasure. I hold no ill-will towards him for waving off any little talent that I may have exhibited that afternoon back in 1972. Rest In Peace, Marco.