(info courtesy of John Gates - NORAD 1966-1968)
The NORAD Band was quartered at Peterson Field, the airfield of ENT Airforce Base located in Colorado Springs, CO. There was a small barracks
across from the rehearsal hall which was conveniently located next to
the NCO club where the band members were allowed to gather
because they were such GREAT customers!!
The Band was made up of contingents of US Army, US Air Force , US Navy, and Canadian Air Force enlisted bandsmen.
A NORAD Band Concert was called the "Cavalcade of Music" with a focus on custom
arrangements of show tunes and medleys.
The Cavalcade also featured The NORAD Commanders Jazz Band - a really great big band -
the alumni list reads like a veritable "who's who" of successful musicians including: Bobby Shew, Mike Whited, Bill Prince, Phil Wilson, Bobby Harriott, Warren Luening, Pete Rosa, Jerry Ash, Johnnie Zell, Richard Maloof, Kenny Kotwitz, Steve Bohannon, Jerry DeDad, Randy Aldcroft, Mike Brumbaugh, Clay Brandt, Jerry Liliedahl, Dave Wolpe, Larry Ford, Jim Straggari, Dave Edwards,
Fred Hamilton, Rick Drumm and on and on...
.
I remember jam sessions at the "Cellar" in Manitou Springs. The club was owned by trombonist Urbie Green's brother,
Al Green, who had just retired from the Air Force (USAF Major/bomber pilot).
He was a great jazz pianist and one of my first teachers.
I fondly recall playing gigs with
NORAD Band members at a happening little club in Colorado Springs called the "Emporium". This band included guitarist/bassist Fred Hamilton, saxophonist Smitty Smith, trombonist Mike Brumbaugh, drummer Rick Drumm with yours truly on keys.
The band was so good that we would often forget about the written charts and
focus on listening to one another while creating truly fantastic improvisational music....
The Norad Band during recordings at Columbia Studios