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Martinsville High School Alumni
Class of MHS Band Reply  |   Post Message  |   Message List
Melody Boys of the 1950's - 55
01/25/03     C. Bruce Lupton  (1962)      Loopydade@msn.com
After finally noticing the band had its own little site and reading through most of the posted messages and questions concerning older members, I thought I would mention the following: I was in the MHS band from 1957 through 1962, after having been moved up from the Jr. Hi band while in the 8th grade. I don't think they do that much anymore. I know that four of my classmates went up with me. But, enough of that. What I wanted to mention was the band that Johnny Crews and/or Victor Rislow (trumpets), Billy Ellis (trombone), Warwick Shultz (saxophone) and Benny Eanes (drums) and a few others I do not remember had a band called the Melody Boys and played the big band arrangements in addition to contemporary music of the 50's. I was wondering if anyone else remembers their sweet music and know anything about these guys and if they stayed in music. I know Johnny and Victor did, but not sure of the others. Warwick, by the way, was a wonderful sax player. I may be wrong about Ellis on the bone, Terry Mitchell played trombone back then and may have been in this band. I'm not really clear on that one.
 
02/06/03     BENNY  (1956)      SENAEB @ MSN.COM
Re: Melody Boys of the 1950's
BRUCE: IT'S NICE TO BE REMEMBERED BY AN "UNDERCLASSMAN" SUCH AS YOURSELF!! ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MELODY BOYS---TERRY MITCHELL, TROMBONE; BILL KIRK, TENOR SAXOPHONE; JERRY PRILLAMAN, CLARINET; JIM HODNETT, PIANO; REED STONE MOORE, STING BASS; JOHN CREWS, TRUMPET; AND YOURS TRULY, ARE ALIVE AND WELL AND EXCEPT FOR KIRK AND ME ARE ALL LIVING SOMEWHERE IN VIRGINIA. (NOT ALTOGETHER, OF COURSE, BUT SCATTERED ABOUT!) KIRK AND I ARE "TARHEELS", AND I SAW HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN, I GUESS,42 YEARS AT THE "OL' DAWGS" 2002 REUNION. CREWS STILLS PLAYS AND POSSIBLY MITCHELL ALSO (HE LATER BECAME A "MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST", I UNDERSTAND.) BUT CREWS IS THE ONLY REALLY "PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN" FROM THE ORIGINALS, THE REST OF US STILL, WELL, YOU KNOW!!! CREWS PLAYED HIS HORN AT OUR 45TH CLASS REUNION IN 2001 AND BEFORE HE DID MR. SHANK TOLD ME THAT "I'VE HEARD YOU, NOW I WANT TO HEAR JOHNNY!!" HE PLAYED SEVERAL REQUESTED "STANDARDS" INCLUDING "THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN" FOR ME, BUT WE WERE ALL TOUCHED WHEN HE PLAYED "AMAZING GRACE" IN MEMORY OF ALL OUR DECEASED CLASSMATES. I STILL GET ALL CHOKED UP WHEN I RECALL HIS PLAYING IT. THE REST OF THE "LITTLE" MELODY BOYS---DANNY DYER, "RICK" SHULTZ, VIC RISLOW, BILL MIZELL, ETC., WERE ADDED WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO PLAY BIG BAND MUSIC INSTEAD OF OUR MORE TRADITIONAL, EVERYMAN FOR HIMSELF, DIXIELAND! I'VE HEARD TAPES OF OUR SHOWS AT THE THE HENRY COUNTY EXPOSITION (WE OPENED FOR "SUNSHINE SUE, THE FEATURED ATTRACTION) AND FROM THE SOUNDS OF MY HEAVY DRUMMING, I WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT CARPENTER. THANKS, BRUCE, FOR REMEMBERING US AND FOR LETTING ME GO BACK IN TIME TO WHAT WERE THE "GOOD OL' DAYS?"!!

11/21/07     Bruce Lupton  (1962)      Clydelupton@yahoo.com
Re: Melody Boys of the 1950's
I don't know how many folks have read the above entries, and I can't believe it's been 4 years since this all started. If you're reading this and haven't gotten one of Rick's CD's, then you need to donate to this website and have John Frank send you one. I finally got one for my brother, Joe, and he enjoys listening to it, too. Thanks, Rick, Benny and all the guys for contributing to this wonderful walk back down memory lane...
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