STRIKE UP THE BAND!!


 

Joe Dyke poses with Michu, “The World’s Smallest Man", and the Clown Band.

The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Band traveled with a conductor/lead trumpet, bass, keyboard, and drums.  They would fill out the band with three saxes, three trumpets, and three trombones from union players in the cities where the circus was performing.  I played split lead with their conductor Keith Green, an amazing player, for five seasons. Before the first show, we had one “rehearsal”. It was essentially just a read-through the book, giving us tempos and any things to watch the conductor for.  The shows were in two acts, with an intermission between. I was constantly playing and turning pages.  No rest for the chops.  I would take my wife Laurel and our boys.  They sat right behind the band and saw the show up really close.  Hero points for dad — Joe Dyke ‘65