Gary Shipley Bluegrass About Me 2

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A Little About Me:

I was born at an early age on January 17, 1959 in the South West Missouri town of Joplin. The hospital was Freeman on 20th street. The hospital has since been relocated, No fault of mine. My mother and father Grace and Orville Shipley would turn on a local T.V. Program on channel 7 called Melody Matinee. I would hoof my stroller from where ever I was in the house to the Rug Room ( named this because it had a rug in it) to hear the music. It was a combination of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel performed by local talent.

My first endeavor was the accordion, simply because it was the only instrument in the house. When Mom saw I could play a tune she decided to get a piano. Mom could play the accordion and piano a little and was probably pretty good at one time. Now Mom bless her heart wanted me to learn the right and proper way so she signed me up for PIANO LESSONS, These words strike fear in the heart of every beginning student. Mrs. Morgan was a fine Piano teacher, by the book ! This was a real experience. She also raised Parakeets and there were hundreds of them in every room of the house. Yes of curse we bought a pair of birds, duh! what a racket. I didn't care much for proper learnin. I got my basics for a few years and quit.

Now about the 6th grade Mr. Dean Salchow "Band Director" was recruiting new victims into the school music program. Don't really know why but I ended up with a Trumpet. Didn't really like that so I moved to the Baritone then the Tuba. I liked the Sousaphone the best so far. In the 8th grade I discovered the Tenor Sax. I joined the High School Stage Band and played that thing all year and couldn't read a note of Sax music. I just harmonized with the sax player beside me I'm glad he was really good. Joined again and got the Baritone Sax. Oops I was caught, No one to copy. He told me I had two weeks to learn to actually play by note. I went into the practice room every day anytime I could and worked at home nonstop, after all I had been put on the spot and had to do or die. I came out in one week and played from then on. This started some thing. I learned every instrument in the band and could sit in when someone was sick if necessary.

We were at state competition one year and the Tuba player became ill. He is a good friend of mine and an accomplished Tuba man so I wouldn't embarrass him for the world. He couldn't perform in the Brass Quartet or Sextet, so I took his place, Site Reading and then playing from memory. I don't remember if I played it right or faked it but we got 1st and 2nd at State competitions anyway. P.S. I also took 1st in Sax Quartet and Sextet. I would also like to say that our Stage Band was the first that I know of to cut an 8 track tape at Webb City High School in 1976 or 77. More