A short time ago I learned of the passing of my Uncle Bert (my mother's brother). I make mention of him here because he was one of the people very much responsible for encouraging me to become a musician in the first place.
He was a VERY good pianist and very funny guy who spent his life playing jazz and pops with big bands and small groups. Once in a while he'd fill in on the big pipe organ at my church, and I loved it because at the end of mass, he'd FLOOR it.
He'd crank up the volume and it sounded absolutely glorious. (Unfortunately, it didn't make him too many friends at that church...)I got my first drum set on my 12th birthday, and he was the first musician I ever played with, that very night.
I don't have time to write much more now, because my business is open and I'm short-handed today, so I have to get going. But I had to at least start to write this. "Mon Oncle" Bert is going to be greatly missed.
