Phillip Hirales

I have not published a blog recently and that has been due to family activities and my involvement in some manner.  So, I wish to apologize for that  but sometimes it is good to regroup and sort out some of the events that have surrounded me and in which I have contributed something musically.  Recently that seems to be my calling in regards to my musical experiences because sometimes a relative or friend requests my musical participation, and that has been the case in the last two church events that I had the fortune to attend.  So even though "A Trumpet Over Arizona" is mostly about honoring musicians, music teachers, and musical events that occurred in my life years ago, I also believe that it is essential to document some of my current musical involvements because first of all, I still enjoy performing at my musical craft and giving enjoyment to many, and second, hopefully in the future, it will provide a  window into how things were now for the new music aficionados in generations to come.  We can only imagine how things will be in the future especially in the music arena.

As always, I encourage educators to use "A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona" for their classroom activities or for discussions or themes relating to music, history, Arizona, Bisbee, Southwest, and northern Mexico and culture because in reality, many of the discussions or facts or stories presented in these blogs reflect these varied themes and hopefully shed light in some manner that will assist aspiring musicians, cultural aficionados, and individuals desiring to find how it was then and how it impacted things now.  And that is the reason why this blog as in my previous blogs is titled "A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona"; that is, because it not only is about Bisbee but also, about Arizona and the Southwest areas.  I might even add that roads lead outwards to the world as well, and as I told many students in my Music Appreciation classes, "When you study history about yourself, you discover how international you are--your music and your culture reveals many, many facets about you as an individual."  "Be proud of who you are".

La Quincieniera
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in several quincienieras, a birthday celebration which is known in Spanish as LasQuincieniera, a gala event celebrated by young Hispanic girls to mark that time indicating she has blossomed into a young lady.   Some historians claim that the Spaniards brought this ceremony to the New World while others state that the Aztecs were responsible for this traditional Hispanic to mark this significant rite of passage for young girls in their lives.  There is a mass ceremony, a dinner-dance and other traditional activities, and my musical involvement was to play the "Ave Maria" at the church during the Mass for both quincienieras, one in Sierra Vista and the other one in Bisbee.   Usually, the Ave Maria is really only played for a wedding ceremony but I was requested to play this religious selection so I played it. In one quincieniera I played it on the trumpet but at the other one I played it on the soprano saxophone.   The soprano sax came to the forefront and made popular by Kenny G, a sax master who has reached extraordinary heights in his performances on the soprano saxophone unmatched by anyone on the planet. It has a beautiful melancholy sound that take listeners to levels close to heaven as mentioned by many.  So, I played the Ave Maria on the soprano and I didn't have to worry about building up my lips or "my chops" as many horn players call them in order to play it comfortably because the reed in the instrument creates the sound.  On one other musical fact, it should be noted that there are two Ave Marias, one written by Schubert and the other by Bach-Gounod, and the one that is most often heard in ecclasiastical settings is the one by Schubert. I hope to play the other one at sometime because it is very melodic and classical and it deserves to be heard in a church setting.

Quincienieras are very well-planned events that often times become very expensive that every Hispanic girl hopes to have, unlike the "sweet sixteen" parties in the 50's  when I was growing up,  I remember my older sister's birthday party when we lived up the Gulch at the bottom of Youngblood Hill.  In our old garage located on a lot below our house, my sister celebrated her  "sweet sixteen" party complete with a small turntable playing 45's with sounds like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, and other Do-Wap sounds while kids in their penny-loafers, their greasy hair-dos, big skirts, and pony-tails danced before taking a break, running up the stairs leading to our house at the bottom of YoungBlood Hill.  In the kitchen, party-goers indulged in snacks and refreshments that my mother had provided. Aha!   But my mother wanting to liven up the party so that the kids would have a good time thought that she would really make the kids happy, so in the punch bowl, she decided to really make everyone have a better time and she pulled out some "hootch", or "pulque" or whatever, and I don't know what it actually was, but  I believe it was a bottle of tequila or maybe mescal and she poured a generous portion into the bowl.  And now you could see the kids, especially the boys, run up and down the stairs leading to the kitchen where they were drinking up that punch like it was the last punch they would ever see.  And that is the last time I ever heard anymore about it but I am sure that somewhere, someone was asking what happened, especially the boys.   Those were the days up the Gulch.

In the picture below, there is snow, and much is to be said for anyone trying to navigate up Young Blood Hill during winter because they were either adventuresome or crazy.  And my mother was a well-known lady in this neighborhood, and so when "los hippies"  moved into this barrio right after the mines shut down, she was a revered individual as "los hippies" received her infamous "Bendicion Senor", and then, they bowed in a respectful, pious manner to show their acknowledgement of Mrs. Hirales.  But as you can see in the pictures of our house, there was a porch area and a wall that enclosed a small yard, and these had ledges that contained rocks in containers suited to serve as projectiles for any dog, cat, or any other mongrel that came near, and like a warrior protecting the castle, my mom threw these rocks to protect what was ours.  So, if you didn't receive the "Bendicion" and a little acknowledgement to the lady at 203A Young Blood Hill, you could be the target of a relentless attack.  That's the way it was up the Gulch.

In the picture below, there is plenty of snow on the Hirales house, and in the upper left one can see a sign that says "Historic Muheim House".  My mother worked for the Muheims during the Depression days as a household worker and cook, and according to her, would provide for our family since my father was not working in these difficult times. Later, as a young boy, I would look back to my house, look at the porch, and before I walked around the curve, by the Soriano and Castellanos house, I would see my father relaxing in the corner of the porch most of the time.

My mother, being from Sonora, MX, had many friends and some relatives living in Naco and one time, my mother took in a big parrot who belonged to one of her friends.  The friend had to leave town for awhile and so my mother agreed to babysit this bird who went by the name "El Capitan".  My father would set "El Capitain's" cage on the porch when the weather was fair, and often, he would sit outside in the front porch area where he could see a lot of the upper gulch. "El Capitan loved to whistle and many times, as kids were going to school, "El Capitain" whistled like boys would whistle at girls.  One day, there was a young girl who was going by our house, and "El Capitain" did his thing and whistled.   This young girl turned around quickly and staring at my father sitting quietly in the corner of the porch as he would often do. pointed a finger at him. Then she said loudly in no uncertain terms,  "Heeey, I see you". "No, no, nooo." Needless to say, my father was not amused, and I believe the parrot went back into the house in "a time-out".  So much for being a bird up the Gulch in those days.

The Hirales House 

Brewery Gulch at the bottom of Young Blood Hill

Bisbee, Arizona

In the picture above, after a recent snowfall, it was not uncommon for there to be a foot or two of snow on the ground up to your knees.

In the 20th Century, the organized music group known as the big band era began with the likes of Walt Witman and Bennie Goodman in the 1920's and renowned groups like the Tommy Dorsey and Jimmie Dorsey Bands, and then there was the sound of the Glen Miller Band in the 1940's and others that followed.  These groups set the model for music that still rings out with popular musicians and vocalists today who emulate in their musical apex the high point of their music career by the sounds originated through the medium of the big bands.

Bisbee always had everything that a person might need for whatever, and it was always a great experience to be greeted by someone in the store who knew you, or even if they did not know you would always make a cordial comment welcoming their customers.  Our young people should be taught how to make that so-important personal contact when dealing with the public because it is so import. In Bisbee, personal contact and community service were always an integral part of a small business, and my first work experience working in a small business taught me these and many other values.  Such was the philosophy and modus operandi of The Music Box, an icon in the Bisbee community for many years, and for me, it provided me with the foundation and knowledge that would be so important for many of my later challenges in life.

The Music Box
So in the early 50's,  there was a young couple who started a music store in Bisbee, and they were from Michigan--Norman and Mary Dart who started their little business on Main Street in what is known as Old Bisbee just below what was the J.C. Penny Store on that side of the street.  Their store was small but well-stocked with sheet music, musical instruments and accessories that provided locals with a substantial musical ,choice, and since Bisbee was the center of the Cochise County shopping area, it became the place for performing musicians as well as beginning young musicians to visit.  Eventually, the Darts decided they needed more room for their ever-expanding product line that would now include TVs, and pianos so they moved their store to the location that had housed the Safeway Store.  Later, they would hire a talented piano technician from New York by the name of Eddie Oliver who would tune and service all of the pianos sold by The Music Box, and sell pianos they did.  Bisbee was the business center for Cochise County, and The Music Box was the premier music store in Southeastern Arizona, and Northern Sonora, MX, and if you were a musician at that time, you would go to the Music Box to buy what you needed for your performance.  The Music Box also always provided support to the schools, and the Fort Huachuca community including the Army Band, and if there was a piano in the facility, Eddie Oliver would tune it.

Norman and Mary were dedicated to the Bisbee community by being always involved in community events providing support for the schools, the hospital, and other local groups year after year.  They were great supporters of the Copper Queen Hospital, and donated a parcel of land by the Don Luis area of Bisbee for a community park.  Norman and Mary were superb community citizens, and I learned much from these wonderful human beings.

Music Box Wall Advertisement

This wall advertisement indicated where The Music Box was located which is in the present art gallery below the Grand Hotel and Bar.  However, the original Music Box was located in a smaller store location further down main street, and later, of course, outgrew this location. To me, it represents a time not so long ago when Bisbee was Bisbee.  Shortly before I left The Music Box in 1966, and as rumors of the mine closure swirled through town, I asked Norman what he thought would be the future of Bisbee.  Norman turned to me and stated in his no-nonsense style of conversation and said, "Phillip, there always will be a Bisbee."  And he was right.  I have never forgotten Norman and Mary Dart for they were truly Bisbee people who loved their community and the people they served.

Richard Garcia

In keeping with "A Trumpet Over Arizona", and those topics and individuals that remain part of our being and our own personal involvement, we would like to honor Richard Garcia, a young man born in Bisbee, attended schools in Bisbee and who graduated from Bisbee High School in 1978.  While attending Bisbee High School, he was very active in many activities including Band and served in many leadership roles including Student Body President.

Bisbee High School Band

1977-1978
Bisbee High School Cuprite--Anna Garcia Collection

 As a Bisbee High School band member, he became Drum Major and was selected to be part of the All-Arizona Centennial Band which performed in Washington, D.C. for the National Centennial celebration.

All-Arizona High School Centennial Band Washington D.C.

Anna Garcia Personal Collection

After graduation from Bisbee High School, Richard enrolled at the University of Arizona and continued with his involvement in music as a member of the University of Arizona Wildcat Band as well as a student leader in various school activities and clubs.  The highlight of Richard's student experience was his election to the position of University of Arizona Student Body President.  After graduating from the University, he served as a recruiter and alumni coordinator in California. Richard was also very involved with James McNulty, a popular local candidate who was running for U.S. Senator.   The University Alumni Association dedicated the first annual Tour of the Tucson Mountains in his honor and for his many contributions to the University, and established the Richard Garcia Memorial Scholarship in his memory. 

Richard Garcia

1960-1986

Anna Garcia Personal Collection

Musical Moments from the Bisbee Mining Museum

As I spend time in the Bisbee Mining Museum Research Library assisting individuals who come into the Museum, I have been able to locate musical moments in the Museum' archives including the Bisbee Daily Review, and I wanted to share these in this blog.  What is evident is that the Bisbee High School Band and its Director, Mr. Reppe, were a very busy musical aggregation playing not only for the community but for other regional events in Southern Arizona 

Bisbee High School Band 

Performing at the Elfrida Road Inauguration 

1938

(Bisbee Mining Museum Archives)

Bisbee High School Majorettes

1942

(Bisbee Daily Review/Bisbee Mining Museum)

During World War II, the Bisbee High School Band and its auxiliary groups participated in various fund-raising activities to help the war effort.  In this picture, the BHS Majorettes are announced as the featured group with the Bisbee High School Band  in a War Bond drive concert to be held in front of the Bisbee Post Office.

Bisbee Mariachi Festival honors Bisbee Miners

This year, the Bisbee Mariachi Festival will be honoring former Bisbee Miners who labored in the Bisbee mines, many who toiled in these mines for years while at the same time providing for their families during the prosperous times as well as the lean times.  In the picture below, Bisbee miners are depicted in a picture in front of the Denn shaft sometime around 1928 or 1929 just prior to the Great Depression.  The third miner just to the left of the man wearing the light-colored outfit with the matching hat is my father who worked in the mines for many years.  He was a quiet, docile individual walking to work or catching the city bus everyday because he never owned a car.  He also walked from our house to the PD store (where the The Table Restaurant is now across from the Bisbee Mining Museum), bought his groceries, walked back up the Gulch, and rested right outside St. Elmos on that ledge where many people sit today to observe happenings today.      

Bisbee Miners

Denn Shaft

1928

(Anna Garcia collection)

When honoring Bisbee miners, it would be remiss on my part if I did mention my brother, Alfonso Hirales, who worked in the mines for approximately 35 years.  Al, a Korean War veteran, and my hero, for his service and being a solid individual as a family man and provider became a Bisbee Mine Tour Guide, and then, a volunteer for the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum after his retirement from Phelps Dodge (Freeport).  I became a volunteer at the Bisbee Mining Museum after he left, and often, he is my resource on historical facts about Bisbee and especially mining history so I will tell him, "I need to pick your brain" or when talking to visitors at the Museum, I will say to them, "Let me call my brother".  He usually has a response or if not, he will suggest a reference book or other source.  But, Al is definitely a window into Bisbee's past--a valuable resource.

Alfonso Hirales

Bisbee Miner

(Bisbee Mining Museum)

Alfonso Hirales

Bisbee Mine Tour Guide

(Bisbee Mining Museum)

This particular edition of "A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona" has taken awhile to put together because of other priorities hanging over my schedule, however, it has been well worth it to do this one because of the above-named individuals who have been so important in my life.  I really hope that all of my followers of "A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona" enjoy this one, and others to follow because it is enjoyable to me to do these for those that desire to know about times past and how things were then in our place in Arizona.  God bless everyone and hope to see what other musical tidbits we can have for you again shortly.  If you have an opportunity to stop in Bisbee, visit me at the Bisbee Mining Museum on Tuesday afternoons and we will chat about the old days.  Adios

"A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona"

Phillip Hirales

The holiday season always brings back memories for me of times past and how it was then, in our neck of the woods, and specifically, the greater Bisbee area.  I say the greater Bisbee area because it would have to include Naco, and other communities in the Southern part of Arizona.  Often, we cruise up to old Bisbee, and up the Gulch where I used to live and where I spent my entire childhood. The other day, we did just that and so we went up the Gulch by Youngblood Hill, where I lived in the house that is at the bottom of the hill and which is now occupied by someone else.  As we approached Youngblood, we had to swing around the curved road which still has the houses on both sides where many families lived---the Peru family, the Barcelo family, the Sorianos, the Castellanos, the Leyvas, and more. Some of the houses have been demolished and no longer exist.  As we swung around the former Castellano house on this curve, I noticed some people sitting outside and chatting like the old days but it wasn't anybody I knew. For sure, they were not from here.   And  then, like a flashback, I remembered the many times I heard someone in the old neighborhood say they wanted to leave Bisbee. Many people did.   My mother would always complain about living  between the shadows of the mountains and not being able to enjoy the sunlight all day like other places. In Spanish she would say, "nunca pega el sol en este desgraciado canon" or literally, "the sun never strikes this forsaken canyon".   And then, I thought, everyone is gone with maybe one or two exceptions.  People did go to a different situation, and for some of us, we are not that far away.   Because, as I look around my present neighborhood in the San Jose section of Bisbee by Safeway, there are many of us who have roots in the Gulch and grew up there, and did leave the "forsaken canyon".   As for myself, music was key to leave the "forsaken canyon" and now the sun always shines on the walls of my house.

And so during this time of Christmas and as a New Year approaches, I would like to shed some more light and honor upon those who are no longer with us, from yesterday and from beautiful times that were part of the Bisbee tradition. 
(This section was prepared prior to the start of the 2017 Christmas season)

Although I was always involved in some form of music participation, performance or with some music group, I did not participate in choir at Bisbee High School but they had a superb and popular music-choir teacher during the same time Mr. Woodmansee was the band teacher.  A lot of students participated in the choir program and it was a popular school program.  And so in recognition of this master teacher's talents and his impact on students from Bisbee High School, and the community, and as set forth in our mission of this blog, A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona honors Mr. Joseph Payne for his dedication, his love of music, and his love for sharing his talents to prepare many students of his who took place in society today.  Thank you Mr. Payne.

Joseph Payne

Master Music and Choir Teacher

Bisbee High School

1950-1967

Mr. Payne , a graduate from Wesleyan University, taught music appreciation, mixed chorus, madrigal, and operetta during his tenure at Bisbee High School and is best remembered for the groups he instructed and prepared for their presentations during the annual Christmas vespers.   The vespers were always the music highlight in the Bisbee community during the Christmas season. Prior to the present high school facility located in Warren, the choir performed many of their concerts at Lowell School as its auditorium was an appropriate setting for a program of this nature.

1955 BISBEE HIGH SCHOOL MIXED CHOIR

CHRISTMAS VESPERS

---one of the most thrilling and inspiring ChristmasVespers programs in the school's history.  The music ranged from the jolly Yuletide spirit of Merry Old England to religious music full of the real music of Christmas

                                                               ----Bisbee High School Cuprite Yearbook

Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum
In recent years, Bisbee has been on many lists of "have-to-visit" places for tourists from the USA as well as many other countries.  People visiting Bisbee are always advised to visit the Bisbee Mining Museum, the historical window  to the storied past of one of Arizona's most famous mining camps,

 My sister, Anna Garcia, worked in the Bisbee Mining Museum for several years, and later, my brother, Al Hirales, was a volunteer in the museum library for awhile providing his experience as an underground miner in the Bisbee mines for many years. So, I started to volunteer with the Museum in the library just like my brother, and I feel real good about my participation and sharing what I know about Bisbee although my brother was number one in that department and when I
get stuck and or don't have the answer, I call my brother.

BISBEE MINING MUSEUM

Assisting visitors at the Bisbee Mining Museum has already been a satisfying experience even though I have only been there for awhile.   Being there, has allowed me to browse over some of the materials and I will share some interesting tidbits of information that are unique, especially, anything having to do with music.  The following is just such an example of what the citizenry of Bisbee were watching and doing that is quite interesting for history buffs.

From the Wednesday edition of the Bisbee Daily Review on April 5, 1916, it was advertised that . . . at the Orpheum Theatre in Bisbee, Az starting on Thursday for 4 days the featured "Birth of a Nation" with prices of   $0.50, $0.75, $1.50 and $2.00, and an Orchestra of 30 to provide the music.  What caught my eye when I saw this was the "Orchestra of 30 to provide the music".

Orpheum Theatre

Bisbee, Arizona

                                                   (Photo courtesy of Bisbee Mining Museum)
In addition, it is a documented fact that in the Bisbee directory, during this time period, there were individuals residing here whose job title was Orchestra Director, and this is amazing given the fact that Bisbee in the eyes of many was always the "rough-and-tough" mining town when in actuality, culture abounded as well.  To me, this provides a more microscopic view of lives in Bisbee at this time.  Hopefully, there will be more to come, and also, this is an invitation to visit the Bisbee Museum when you are in Bisbee, a great place to learn about a community that contributed so much to the State of Arizona and to the nation as well.  It is also worthy to note that Bisbee then, and through the years, has always had a connection of sorts in many areas of our society.  My focus, through my blog, A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona, in addition to honoring past music educators, and other musicians, hopes to shine a light on the music and culture connections from Bisbee to the rest of Arizona and beyond.  Some of this spotlight may even go the other way because I have discovered very interesting facts and information from exploring my roots and researching other sources and at some time, I hope to share this with my blog readers.   (For any teachers who are reading this blog, you are always invited to use any part of this blog for your classroom lessons relating to these topics.)

Bisbee-Ft. Huachuca Connection

After a long and storied history of military bands at Ft. Huachuca as far back as the Buffalo Soldier days, the Army has decided to reorganize and down-size army bands which will result in the elimination of the 62nd Army Band sometimes also identified as the Military Intelligence Band in 2018. For myself, it was rather disconcerting to know that one of the musical organizations dear to my heart, and one which brings back many memories during my time with the Ft. Huachuca band would no longer be an essential part of the Arizona musical landscape.  Military bands in the Southwest are a subject that could fill several volumes of books given the fact that there is so much information out there and a rich tradition that contributed to the mood of the times through their music.  At some time, I would like to write about military bands in the Southwest but hope to concentrate on the ones that performed in Bisbee that helped frame those moments when this area was in its infancy.

In one of the earlier A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona blog, I revealed events in my life that led to my participation with the 36th Army Band which was the band at Ft. Huachuca during the time I was there from 1967-1969.  Actually, I didn't join the Band until January, 1967 after Basic, and I had originally auditioned as a trumpet player but they needed a flute/piccolo player and that is what my MOS (military occupational specialty) was during this tenure.    

But even before my time with the Ft. Huachuca Band during the late 60's, I had seen them perform at various times, and always felt that they were the most professional and best musicians that I had ever heard in my life.  One of the most memorable recollections of the Army Band was one that allowed me to share the same stage with them. It was a very significant time for Bisbee as the community needed better roads and accessibility to the new economic developments because of the pit.  And as stated in an earlier blog, Aug, 2016, I played with the Bisbee High School Band on the Bisbee side of one end of the tunnel while the 36th Army Band played from the other end of the tunnel to inaugurate the Tunnel.  Little did I realize that 10 years later, I would be playing with that same Army band for Uncle Sam.

Mule Mountain Tunnel

Bisbee, Arizona

36th Army Band

During my time with the 36th Army Band, I met and played with some great musicians, many who had been drafted because of Vietnam.   Some had been playing professionally and others were right out of college and had planned to teach music somewhere and there were others who already were in their chosen civilian occupation with excellent credentials but when drafted, they chose to play in the Band because they wanted to play music. One of the guys in the Band was a physical therapist but he wanted to play the Sousaphone.   Others were career soldiers and had been in Army bands somewhere in the military band system and were  accomplished musicians.  During this time, the 36th Army Band was authorized to have approximately 28 musicians and it was an all-male unit. Years later, the 36th Army Band would become the 62nd Army Band which would also be known as the Military Intelligence Band and eventually it would be authorized approximately 36 musicians to include women in this musical organization.

36th U.S. Army Band

Ft. Huachuca, Arizona

                                           (Photo from Sierra Vista Christmas Parade Line-Up)
In the picture above, the band is performing for a Sierra Vista Christmas Parade, and it is evident that it is comprised of approximate 36 musicians, a higher staffing authorization than the 1966-69 Army Band at Ft. Huachuca when I was there.  As a matter of fact, there was a period of time when the band did not have the full 28 members as authorized and the band had to be more flexible in some of their performances.

My tenure with the 36th Army Band allowed me to be participate in many, many activities---some solemn, many emotional, some hilarious, many memorable and unforgettable ones that I believe made me a better individual, and prepared me for the career that I was to embark on after the military.

As I am putting this blog together, I recall some of those experiences and some of the hilarious moments like the time that the garrison commander decided that the Band should have an additional assignment.  Well, he decided to designate the Band as the Post Reaction Team for emergency situations that would alert the Fort when there was a problem.  So, the Band got jeeps, monitoring and communications equipment, and we were told to go out to the field and set up shop and practice communicating.  But, alas, some of the Bandsmen got lost and it was an exercise in futility because we were a disorganized group and never did communicate very well.  It didn't last more than 2 or 3 weeks, and then it was over.  After all, jazz piano players, and sax players, and horn players just didn't seem like they were to do anything right out in the field when riding jeeps, and I still don't believe to this day that none of the band members had been boy scouts.

The 36th Army Band not only performed for parades and concerts, but also, had several musical groups that provided music for other functions on post.  One of these groups was the dance or stage band, or as some people would say the big band like the Glen Miller Band, a band whose music composed by the director, Glen Miller is still performed by many groups today.  So, the 36th Big Band would play often for formal military dances or balls as sometimes called, and sometimes we would play at the Officer's Club or for the Davis-Monthan Officers Club for special events.  Well, one year, the Big Band played for the Officer's Club New Year's Dance. and, of course, there were many officers, guests, and their nicely dressed partners at this dance.  And like a Big Band, we were set up on risers, that would allow the trumpets and the trombones to be higher than the saxes on floor level.

Well, my mother, who was still living at that time, decided to send over about 2 dozen tamales which she made herself for the boys in the Band.  And during the course of the evening, I passed out some tamales to the Band members because everyone was getting hungry.  I also remember that some of the guys in the Band were starting to slow down due to their indulgence of refreshments during our break time, and I noticed that the trombone players who were sitting in the top riser were really slowing down.  And then, right after midnight, there was a loud crash, and everything just seemed to fall apart.  Well, all of the trombone section had fallen off the back riser, and there was sheet music flying everywhere, and then, there were officers and their ladies picking up Army band guys off the floor.

Now, during this time, in Bisbee, the miners were on strike, and my brother, Al, a Korean War vet, and my brother-in-law, Richard, also a vet, had been hired at the Officers Club to do janitorial work during the day.  And several days later, my brother calls me and asks, "What happened at the Officers Club?   I said
"Why?"  He then said, "Well, Richard and I went to clean up the Officers Club right after New Years and we found tamale leaves everywhere, even in the woman's restroom".  Well, I told my brother what happened, and then he said.
"I told Richard, it must have been quite a party".  I told him, "Your momma wanted to make sure the boys in the band weren't hungry".  I heard my brother say "Uh, huh".

One more comment and memory that I wish to share about my experiences with the 36th Army Band, and that is, that I was assigned to audition other soldiers who could play a trumpet as part of the unit's ongoing goal to find soldier musicians who could help the Band.  Some of the soldiers that I auditioned, for the most part, had just completed basic and were coming for their advanced training at Ft. Huachuca, and one of the soldiers that I auditioned at the time was a young man by the name of Rick Klein.  He was an accomplished musician, an excellent trumpet player and had graduated from college with a degree in music.  Needless to say, he was a perfect fit for the 36th Army Band, and when I completed my enlistment, he completed his service time at Ft. Huachuca, and later was hired by the Sierra Vista schools to teach band.  Rick became a wonderful, dedicated and beloved band teacher and taught the Buena High School Marching and Concert Bands including their stage band for many years until his retirement.  I am very proud to have served with Rick in the Army Band.  I also know that he did many amazing things for the music program at Buena, and made a difference for many young band students during his time there. I am glad that I played a small part in Rick's life.

Local Marching Groups from the Past
As I have had the opportunity to review some of the archives and pictures of the Bisbee Mining Museum in recent days, I have come across some musical groups that performed in Bisbee or in the area, and have not been identified.  Recently, I came across such a picture of a musical marching unit in one of the past Bisbee parades, and probably, a Fourth of July parade.  The marching band in the picture below is that of the Douglas American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps performing in the Old Bisbee area sometime in the late 40's.  This group was an outstanding musical organization that was widely acclaimed throughout Arizona for their patriotism and performances at many events. The majority of their members were former service members from Douglas and some from Bisbee.  In the late 60's and early 70's, I had the pleasure of playing with the Douglas American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, and I met many wonderful people that were associated with this group.  They enjoyed performing and beating on the drums and blowing their bugles, and playing all of the music that would lift the hearts of anyone who listened to their patriotic arrangements. These guys would play anywhere and for anybody and they were happy campers when they did so.  There was an old story about the Corps when they performed in Nogales many years ago at one of their Legion Conventions.   Supposedly, they started to play their drums and bugles around the swimming pool at the hotel where they were staying at the end of the day at this Convention. Well, it was close to midnight, and then, the "local blue" arrived, and . . . . they stopped playing at the hotel but it is uncertain what happened after that.

For many years, the Corps played in Tombstone for Helldorado Days, and my most memorable story about this group is the following one.  The Helldorado Days were always held on Sundays, and it was usually in the morning, before the bars could open at noon.  And I remember playing with the Corps during one Helldorado Parade, and after the parade, they formed up in front of the Legion post home in Tombstone, and started playing, "How Dry I Am" until it was time to open the post pub.  Then, after awhile, they quenched their thirst and lined up single file, marching and playing their favorite tunes,  going in one bar and out the door to the next bar.  But, it seemed like everytime we went into another bar, we would lose a drummer or another bugler because every Corps member had a friend or someone invited them to share another short one, and by the time the Corps had gone around the block, there were only 2 or 3 members left.   Sad to say, that the Douglas American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps does not perform anymore or at least not like years ago and probably not as organized because many of these guys are no longer around.   Later, I hope to share some more light on some of the Corps' activities and maybe some of their members and the tight bond they had with our Bisbee community, and some information on what used to known as the Bisbee American Legion band.

Douglas American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps

Bisbee Fourth of July Parade

1948

Sounds of the Horn

For most of last year, with the exception of teaching a trumpet class at Cochise College during the fall semester, and playing with the St. Pat's church choir  for the church centennial celebration, I hadn't played much nor played with any music group for awhile until last recently when I was invited to play with a wonderful  band, the Montoya Clan one of the more popular and requested bands from New Mexico.  So, I joined the Montoya Clan on a Friday, right before the start of Lent, to play with them at the Tacos and Tequila Masquerade Dance at St.Patrick's church hall in Bisbee.   To my pleasant surprise, the music they played was reminiscent of music I played with other groups from earlier days.  They played some old and new mariachi songs, cumbias, boleros, oldies, and even some country, and each song was performed in their own unique style. In many of the numbers, they featured each band member in a solo showing off their talents, and they were courteous allowing me to do my thing as well.  But, as I said, their musical repertoire brought me back to the days when I played with groups like the old Latinnaires, the Continentals which were Bisbee bands, and the Microbios, a popular Naco band, and then, when they did Your Mine, it reminded me of my time with the Tony Lopez Band from Tombstone and even some of the old Mexican songs which took me back to Los Aventureros Band, a Mexican band from Flagstaff that I used to play with all over Northern Arizona during my college days, and other music groups who I played with in clubs on Route 66 and on San Francisco Street in an old Mexican bar that had the U.S. and Mexican flags over the bar and there was a paddy-wagon usually parked somewhere in the area.

And then some of the country songs took me back to my good friend
Carlos Quiroz, a Bisbee guitar-player singer who fronted a group, and those days when we played at the old VFW hall and the Office Bar, and Carlos announced to the patrons of the bar.  "We hope you enjoy tonight, coming to you from beautiful downtown Looowell, Arizona".  And one night right after finishing up our gig at Lowell, I still remember my old friend Billy strolling down the middle of the road towards the Lowell Circle singing Yo tengo una yaquicita que quiero mucho en Sonora, hay mi yaquicita, hay mi yaquicita.  Yes, the Montoya Clan brought back beautiful and fun-filled memories for me that are priceless, and then, I can still remember a question posed to me by a former high school student at Douglas High School, "What kinds of things have you done Mr. Hirales?"  Those were the days.

So thank you Montoya Clan, and especially Mike Montoya for bringing back those memories.

The Montoya Clan

Mariposa Club
A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona's mission as stated before many times has been to look back to honor those musicians, music teachers and individuals who have impacted lives especially those that I knew, and those that I feel need to be remembered and recognized for making a mark in the world as they performed and/or shared their talents with the rest of us.  That is a continual goal of this blog.  However, A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona would like to recognize those individuals who continue to share their knowledge and love of music and the arts for future generations no matter where or who it might be for the betterment of mankind and this world.  For this I would like to recognize Mike Montoya for his teaching skills and dedication to the youngsters at a place called Studio Mariposa in Naco, Sonora, MX.  Many of these kids are learning many positive skills from Mike and his fellow associates, and are building a solid foundation for these youngsters so that they might make this a better world for everyone.  So, kudos to Mike for his dedication.

Closing Thoughts
Besides honoring those individuals who made a difference as teachers and/or performers from years gone by, A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona has attempted to analyze and to shed light on those music and cultural themes that have been an essential part of our historical past and will continue to explore these avenues and showcase them so that future generations can have a better understanding of themselves and who they are.

And so like my friend and favorite bass player, Joe Duarte, used to say after we finished playing a gig somewhere,  "And when you leave tonight, don't forget your car". 

----A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona

A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona is back again after a pause and re-direction of  priorities.  I had hoped to finish up this present blog earlier but I was called upon to teach a trumpet class for Cochise College as they were needing an instructor this semester.  So, I accepted and after meetings and everything else that is needed prior to a new teaching situation, I was finally able to set things up so that I could work on other projects.  In addition, I have been invited to play with several groups and events.  I will explain more below but just like baseball players, musicians are always looking for a game somewhere. 

As always, teachers are encouraged to use any portions of A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona for their classroom lessons be it music, history, Culture of the Southwest, or any other topic that fits their need.  Phillip Hirales


The main mission of  A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona is to honor and provide recognition for those individuals that I believe made a difference in lives, especially through their talents and/or passion for the arts, specifically the music arena, and also, to spotlight musical organizations that have faded into the past that these may be recognized for their contribution to our history so that today's generation and future generations may have a better understanding of life today from studying life yesterday.

First of all,  A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona would like to honor and recognize an individual who I believe made a difference through his talents and passion for his trade.   So, with  profound sadness in our hearts we will do so now for our friend, our neighbor and our fellow human being that recently passed away, Eddie Oliver.

Eddie Oliver
Eddie was born in the Bronx, NY in 1927 of Italian descent and the youngest of three children.  He was a Boy Scout and loved to ride the elevated trains in NYC called the "L".  He joined the army when he was just 18 and was stationed in Idaho at a German officer POW camp where he met his wife to be, Mary, who was a telephone operator at the base.  After they were married they moved back to the Bronx, NY where he started to work for the Winter Piano Company.  His first job while there was to polish piano benches.  Eddie was able to work himself up to an executive in the company before receiving a letter from Norman Dart of The Music Box located on Main Street in Bisbee, Arizona.  The Darts, Norman and Mary Dart, well-known business leaders in Bisbee were in need of a piano tuner and piano craftsman who would service the pianos The Music Box would sell not only in Bisbee but all of Southern Arizona and even Sonora, a northern state of Mexico.  So Eddie and Mary relocated to Bisbee where Eddie would go to work for The Music Box, and Mary went to work as a dental assistant for Dr. Tuell.  Later, as the Bisbee mines started to shut down, so did the sales of The Music Box started to slow down as well, and Eddie left the store to tune pianos for the customers he had come to know when he worked for Norman and Mary Dart.  In addition, he had now started to tune pianos for churches, schools, and Fort Huachuca nearby so he became a well-known and respected piano tuner and craftsman.

Eddie Oliver

Master Piano Tuner

Eddie Oliver

Master Piano Craftsman

                                                         (Photos Courtesy of Bisbee Review)

As I recall, the first time I saw Eddie was at The Music Box where I had just starting working there.   What I remember about Eddie is white pants and a 1965 white and blue Thunderbird he was driving, and he was from New York. My first thoughts were "cool".  Shortly thereafter, I went into the Army, and didn't see Eddie until I got out three years later when I started working for the Bisbee Schools as a band teacher.  As a band teacher, I was always in and out of The Music Box for supplies and one day, in a conversation, I mentioned to Eddie that my wife and I were looking for a house.  Eddie then related to me in that New York style , "Heeey, my next door neighbor is selling his house."  "I'll tell him you're interested".  "Heeey, we can be neighbors."  Sure enough, everything fell into place and we moved next to Eddie and Mary.   We couldn't have had  better neighbors  than Eddie and Mary.  Later, our 2 boys always needed their bikes or something to be worked on, and Eddie was always there.  The boys never forgot that.  Later, Mary passed on and Eddie continued working on pianos.  This is what kept Eddie going for all of his final years because he had a passion for his work.  One other comment on Eddie that should be shared with the local community.    I taught elementary, junior high and high school band in Bisbee when I started my teaching career in 1969, but years later, after teaching at several other area schools, I came back to teach Band at Bisbee High School for a second time as they were having difficulty finding a band teacher and now the Band was struggling to stay alive.  There was no feeder program from the junior high for band kids.  There was no beginning elementary band program for beginners.  There was no budget for Band like prior years and donations were the primary source of funds to buy what Band needed. In short, the Band did with what it had, and often times, instruments would need repair work just so kids could continue performing.  

Eddie Oliver was a piano tuner and technician by trade but unknown to many, he also was a talented instrument repair person.   There were many times when I would bring a saxophone or a trumpet or a flute and would ask Eddie for help

because the Band had a football game to play for, and Eddie was always there for us.  Eddie would never ask for any compensation for his instrument repair and so I would always thank him for his help because it was a big deal to have a Band student play for a performance.  Thank you, Eddie Oliver.

Besides, as he often would comment on his phone response--"Eddie Oliver, the master craftsman of his trade", Eddie was always sharing the things he had.  And share he did, like the figs from his beautiful fig tree in his backyard. We could always count on Eddie putting some figs in a bag and hanging the bag on the fence between our yards for our enjoyment.  The figs were delicious but he always cautioned us to wash the figs before eating them.  The fig tree again has fruit this summer, and I have been pausing every now and then to look over and see any bags of figs that might be hanging on the fence.  Both my wife and I miss our neighbor and good friend, Eddie.  Thanks Eddie for everything and thanks for being a great neighbor, and a wonderful human being, and thanks for the figs you gave us.  They were always and still are delicious.  And like Eddie's message at the end of the call to his phone service stated--"Heeey, and don't forget to stay in tune".

Memories of a Fourth of July Parade in Bisbee
My thoughts often go back to a moment in time for me that has become more significant in my lifetime especially as my two sons were growing up, and now, given the fact that they both have small boys.

I remember my father and I walking from our house at the bottom of Young Blood Hill and going to main street, and then walking over to the drugstore which was halfway up the street from the bank and I believe it was the Central Pharmacy at that time. The drugstore had many things that anyone would want and a small cap pistol would be special for a small boy who wanted to be part of the Fourth of July excitement, and that is what my father bought for me.  I remember that moment quite vividly because we went  to the second floor of the Copper Queen Library and we sat on one of the benches on the veranda and looked down onto Main Street as people were scampering in preparation for the Fourth of July parade in Bisbee.  And everyone knew that a parade usually meant colorful floats, and horses with cowboys, and bands and marching units that would be playing music for everyone.

Bisbee Post Office 

Second Floor Veranda

 And then, I started shooting my cap pistol when a policeman pointed to me and signaled for me to stop which I did.  It wasn't very loud but as I look back at this moment, I believe that the policeman was trying to stop anyone from startling the horses in the parade.  So when I go by the library on any given day, I look up to that 2nd floor library porch, and memories of my father and me come back just for a moment but it is always there.  That's the way it was in the late '40s.

Drum and Bugle Corps, Bands, and Marching Units in Bisbee Parades
There have always been bands and musical groups that have made the Bisbee Fourth of July parade, other parades and events memorable.  Frankly, would a parade be a parade without music?   So, at these parades,  the community would come together to enjoy that day proudly as they showed their patriotic spirit. Some of the outstanding musical organizations that have provided music for parades in the Bisbee area include the following although this list still may be incomplete:  10th Cavalry Band and the 10th Cavalry Drum Corps (Ft. Huachuca) and other military bands stationed there which will be researched and presented in a later blog, Bisbee High School Band, Shriners Band (Tucson), 36th U.S. Army Band (Ft. Huachuca), Calumet and Arizona Band, Copper Queen Band,  Italian Band,  Bisbee American Legion Band,  Douglas Drum and Bugle Corps, Fort Grant Industrial School Band, YMCA Boys Band, Bisbee Boys & Girls' Club Band.  Here, we would like to share some of the groups mentioned above but with the understanding that as we continue to research these areas, we continue to find threads of information not explored before, and often times we need to re-write the topic.

Bands from Years Ago

Calumet and Arizona Band (C & A)

(Photo courtesy of the Bisbee Historical Mining Museum)

On July 2, 1916, the Calumet and Arizona (C & A) Band led the first division of the Fourth of July parade in Bisbee, Arizona in Bisbee's Independence Day celebration.  This band was very active in the community celebrations that required music typical of those years and is one of the most memorable music group to perform in the Bisbee area.  In the picture above, the band is in front of the C & A mining company office that is today Bisbee city hall.  During this time period, bands often gave concerts in the Warren area for the area residents and the C & A Band played its share of concerts for Bisbee residents.  The uniforms worn by the band members are similar to the style worn by bands of the era, and were Sousa-like in appearance.  Other items of significance for this band is the notable absence of saxophones, and the use of the cornet rather than the trumpet as seen in bands today. The trumpet became popular in jazz bands but the cornet was the prime musical instrument for concert bands as well as marching bands.  Also, the bass horn is different than the Sousaphones as used in marching bands and other popular bands today. One other point that should be mentioned, at least for this musical organization, is that most if not all of the band members worked for the C & A mining company, either as miners or other employees.  The C & A Band also played on the Vista Park in Warren for dances especially during the Summer.

(Bisbee Daily Review)

Ft Grant Industrial School Band

(photo from Arizona State Library archives)

During the Apache Wars of the 1880's in Arizona the federal government decided to establish a military fort at the base of Mt. Graham in what is now known as Graham County.  The cavalry stationed there were tasked primarily to deal with issues relating to the Apache Indians in the area although they were also commanded to help in civil matters when needed.  After Arizona became a state on Feb. 14, 1912, the U.S. government turned over the Ft. Grant facilities to the State of Arizona.  Then, the State converted the site into the Arizona Industrial School for boys and girls having problems at home and school and the community.  As part of the school's mission to help young people find structure in their lives, the school provided activities to help, and thus, the Ft. Grant Industrial School Band was formed.  They became a band much in demand all over the State and they performed in Bisbee as well, many times in parades and other musical events including U.S. Naturalization ceremonies.  In the picture below, we see the Ft. Grant Industrial School Band playing in the Lowell area sometime in the late  '40s  in front of what we know today as the Bisbee Breakfast Club.  The sign in front of the building indicates a hardware and appliance store, and later it would house a bakery which baked delicious sweet bread for those with a sweet tooth. That building does not exist and in its place, there is now a parking area for businesses currently in Lowell.

Ft. Grant Industrial School Band

playing in Lowell, Arizona about 1947 or 1948

(photo courtesy of Anna Garcia)

Recent Notable Events

With the sounds coming from a single bagpiper, a disciplined unit from one of the local Tucson-area fire departments posted the colors in Tucson, Arizona on a beautiful Sunday morning September 17, 2017  at the annual memorial honoring firefighters and first responders who gave the ultimate price during 9/11 in New York on that infamous and tragic day in 2001.   Firefighters along with family members from throughout Arizona paused to pay homage to those that made the ultimate sacrifice and then firefighters proceeded to climb the stairs at the Broadway building high-rise to symbolize the stairs at the World Trade Center that these heroes had scaled on that day.  A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona honors these individuals past and present, those that gave their all, and those who are prepared to give their all each day to make us safe, and to make our communities safe.

Firefighters at the Tucson 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

(photo courtesy of Tucson-area firefighters)

A Bisbee Historical Moment

For many of our blog readers, this Bisbee Historical Moment will have come and gone, however, it is always worth noting that a milestone like this one only comes every 100 years.  And that is what the celebration is about--the 100th year celebration of St. Patrick Church in Bisbee, Arizona.  This memorable event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 at a 4:00 pm mass with the Bishop from Tucson as the celebrant.  The next day, Sunday, will have St. Patrick's Church continue their centennial celebration by holding a Mariachi Mass at 10:00 am. 

St. Patrick's Church

Bisbee, Arizona

St. Parick Church Stained Window

Memories

My mother used to say in Spanish, "Uno vive con sus recuerdos", which means "You live with your memories", and she would usually tell me in some manner how she felt about those moments that were so important to her as she was raising a family years ago in a mining town named Bisbee.

So, as A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona recalls the memories of yesterday, the one memory that comes to my mind almost immediately was that in that moment in 1969 when I was leaving the Army.   As previously stated in an earlier blog, I was called to fill in the band teacher position at the elementary grades for a situation that resulted in the dismissal of the high school band teacher.  So, I remember vividly, like it was yesterday, when Mr. Russ Andaloro, who was promoted to become the high school band teacher, called me to have a meeting with him at the Hillcrest Apartments located in the Bakerville area which is still Bisbee.  Mr. Andaloro, an old Army bandsman (my mentor when I started teaching), pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels, placed it on the kitchen table, and then he laid out a schedule which had band sections, and so he started to map out my schedule that he had taught up to that time during the school year.  He said, you have a a couple of beginning saxophones on Monday in the morning at Greenway, and later, also a section of beginning trumpet players--5th graders.  Later, you have some drummers and some beginning flute players--5th graders in the afternoon.  On the next day, you will go to Lowell School and you have a section of clarinet players, some flute players, and a trombone player.  You will be there most of the day, and then, the next morning you will go to Central School, and you have some beginning trumpet and saxophone players--5th graders in the morning.  After lunch, you will go to Lincoln School and there, you have some beginning flute and clarinet players.  On Thursday, you will go to St. Patrick's School (the building next to the church) and there, you have a trombone player, and a couple of trumpets.  You then go to Horace Mann School that afternoon and meet with some of the advanced band students, and on Friday morning, you will meet with the advanced group and later the all the beginning band students.  After that year, I taught the following year at the high school, but I always remember Mr. Andaloro, and my first band schedule that included St. Patrick School.  I hope to feature Mr. Andoloro in one of my future blogs because of his impact on my life.   

And there were other memories of St. Patrick Church--the masses, the baptisms, the funerals, the weddings, the celebrations below in the hall especially those where I had the opportunity to play, the mananitas every Dec. 12 for Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe and the singers, and the musicians and those dedicated to La Virgen.

But for me, many of my memories come from the Sacred Heart Church by Central School---I remember the offerings in May by young boys and girls wearing white, the girls carrying flowers for the Virgen.

                                      

 I remember the nuns who taught in a building right next to Central School where they taught many subjects to their young charges, I remember the celebrations in the same building on the second floor where there would be receptions for newly-weds and I remember a Mexican band from Tombstone playing and everyone dancing for hours, I remember the mothers of first-communion children prepare chocolate caliente y pan de huevo (hot chocolate and Mexican sweet bread) after receiving their first holy communion and festive celebrations in the hall, I remember my mother and other ladies from the Sacred Heart Church prepare burros de chili con carne as they participated in a fund-raiser at the City Park, and hear my mother say, "Vamos a vender muchos burritos a los borrachitos que salen de las cantinas" or that is, "We are going to sell many burritos to the little drunks that come out of the bars."  I remember the demolition of the old Sacred Heart Church, and men from the church who did so manually on a given day.  I remember the day my father was brought into the new Sacred Heart Church for his final mass, and the sermon that the priest gave for him when he said, "Men who worked in the mines toiled hard and labored like mules everyday like this man". "And he was a good man".

And so we celebrate 100 years of memories for the church and its parishoners in Bisbee, Arizona.  "Uno vive con sus recuerdos".  "You live with your memories".

Final Trumpet Call

A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona would like to encourage anyone who feels that they were inspired by a former Band or Music Teacher when they were in school, especially in Arizona, to come forward and provide us with the information and pictures in a guest article in order to recognize them for the impact they gave to students and the community in which they resided.  This recognition will be provided in our blog, A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona.  In these times, it is important to recognize the good of individuals so that our younger generation can be inspired to do good and positive things in their lives and set the examples for those who will follow.

"A Trumpet Plays Over Arizona"

  Phillip Hirales