The Diplomats European Tour
This story is about an opportunity I got to be a part of as a graduating high school senior. Being selected as a member of The United States Collegiate Wind Bands. This opportunity which opened my eyes to the world and changed my life forever, was made possible by a lot of people including my high school band director Ty West, and all the local sponsors that helped me.
On a personal note, growing up we did not have money. A lot of people and businesses helped sponsor my expenses so I could have this experience. I can never thank them enough for all the support they gave me.
Background:
The United States Collegiate Wind Bands, founded by Prof. Al G. Wright of Purdue University, was a national touring wind band program created for outstanding young musicians. The organization was an invitation only ensemble, comprised of graduating high school seniors from across the country. It brought together highly capable musicians for intensive rehearsals, concert performances, and international travel. Al G. Wright founded the organization to give graduating high school students the opportunity to travel and perform concerts in Europe, including appearances in Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, and Italy under distinguished guest conductors.
For many young musicians, the USCWB offered the first opportunity to be part of a national ensemble that placed them in a high level performance environment, and exposed them to international audiences, European culture, and the standards of serious concert touring. Being invited and accepted into the USCWB represented both an honor and a new life experience that few programs of its kind could offer.
Once selected, each musician was sent their assigned music charts, including which chair (Position: 1st, 2nd, 3rd) for all the songs to be performed. Each musician had a few weeks to learn their parts and be ready for the initial three days of 8 hour rehearsals.
Senior Year:
The trombone I played then belonged to the school. I needed to own a horn in order to play in college. I remember about a year before graduating, I placed an order at a music store for my first trombone. I had to take out a loan for the cost and then make payments from my job at the grocery store. I ordered a Bach Stradivarius 16M. It was the model that world famous Bill Watrous played. It was a custom horn that Bach designed with the help of Bill Watrous. It had a light weight slide and a few other options to make it super light and super friction free. The 16M was made to be ultra smooth, light weight and super fast.
Bill Watrous was considered by everyone to be one of best trombone players in the world, ever. A virtuoso on the horn. I got to play with him once and then had several hangs with him while later in in LA when I was studying trombone with my teacher, the famous Slyde Hyde. (Another story for later.) I used to listen to Watrous non-stop. He was my biggest influence though high school and college.
Here is one song just to illustrate how awesome he played. Bill Watrous-"Fourth Floor Walk Up" Solo
This poster was in my high school band room, and it was all I could think about. The coolest dude playing the coolest instrument
As my senior year progressed, I found out my new trombone was going to be delivered much later that originally expected. It actually arrived less than 10 days before I was to leave for the tour.
I had very little time to break in my new horn, and it was still not completely dialed in when I left for New York. Oh well, thankfully I had learned one important music lesson early in life, do not make excuses, just suck it up and do your job. I knew I was not executing my parts as well I knew could. I was still breaking in my horn.
Every trombone is different, the air support and power you exuded for the lower regisiter vs higher register is different. It’s only after a few 1000 hours of playing a new horn that you do not have to think about the horn anymore, and I was about 800 hours short when the New York rehearsals started. For most people, you would not notice any difference, but on a professional level of execution, it is very different.
There are so many wonderful experiences from this tour. I’m including just a small portion, as this would turn into a much longer article than it already is. I may add a few related articles in future, if I come across new media.
On with the story:
After all of us arrived in New York for rehearsals and a final New York concert, our band The Diplomats, left for Europe under the leadership of Prof. Al G. Wright, with Roy A. Johnson conducting the Diplomats. Over the next three weeks, we traveled through multiple countries, performing concerts, representing the United States abroad, and experienced a level of musicianship and cultural experiences that few young performers ever encounter.
What follows is a broad overview of that 1979 European tour, tracing the route, the major performances, and some of the documented highlights along the way.
Performance City Locations:
• New York, United States
• Colmar Berg, Luxembourg
• Munich, Germany
• Krumbach, Germany
• Lugano, Switzerland
• Courmayeur, Italy
• La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland
• Paris, France
• London, England
As the timeline unfolds, I’ll add the original itinerary pages that were given to us for those dates. They detail more of what we did each day and what we got to do.
Tour Jacket (Front)
Tour Jacket (Back)
When we completed the tour, I knew 1000% this is what I wanted, and had to do, for the rest of my life.
Pre Tour Preparation in New York
July 14 though July 17, 1979
Itinerary July 14th - July 18th
Our band, The Diplomats, met in New York City for three days of rehearsal before leaving for Europe. These days were devoted to getting the songs dialed in and preparing for the tour.
The scheduled rehearsal sessions were in the Abbey Victoria Hotel main ballroom. The Abbey Victoria Hotel is where we also stayed while in New York. I remember arriving at the airport on the first day of rehearsals. When I arrived at the Abbey Victoria Hotel, I could hear this big beautiful music as I entered the main lobby. I thought wow, that sounds like great music being played through the hotel speaker system. Little did I realize, that was our band rehearsing live in the ballroom. I knew at that moment that this band is really good, and I had better play my best to fit in and contribute my part.
Rehearsing in the Abbey Victoria Hotel Main Ballroom
On July 16th that evening after rehearsal, we got to see The Radio City Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall. Sitting in the audience watching the world famous Radio City Rockettes was really cool. This was my first visit to New York and everything was new and awesome. Little did I know, or could have imagined, that one day I would be back here at Radio City Music Hall, not as an audience member, but on stage as a performer. (That’s another story down the road.)
Photo from the Radio City Rockettes Show we attended in 1979
On July 17th, our last day in New York and departure flight day, we gave an concert at the Guggenheim Bandshell at the Lincoln Center. This performance served as a first test run concert before departure. It was good getting to perform these songs at least once before we started the tour.
The Diplomats at Guggenheim Bandshell at Lincoln Center
Later that evening, we officially began the overseas portion trip leaving from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sabena Airlines and flying overnight flight to Brussels.
Sabena Airlines to Brussels
Arrival in Europe Belgium and Luxembourg
July 18th and July 19th
We arrived in Brussels, Belgium on the early morning of July 18th. I remember walking out of the airport structure. Once I got a glimpse of the city, it felt like I was literally in the middle of a foreign film, it was so different than California, and very surreal. From the airport we traveled by two very nice motor coaches through Belgium into Luxembourg, marking the true start of the European land tour.
Traveling in Tour Coaches
Everything was so different back then. Seeing all the old buildings and structures from hundreds of years ago, still standing and being used.
On July 19th, after a morning rehearsal in Luxembourg, we prepared for our first European concert, which took place that evening in Colmar Berg, Luxembourg.
Luxembourg Concert Poster
This first concert set the tone and pace for the entire tour, and the pattern of events for what followed, rehearsal, travel, concert performance, cultural engagement in each region, and maybe a little sleep.
Germany
Koblenz, Heidelberg, Munich
July 20th through July 24th
Itinerary July 18th - July 22nd
On July 20th, we left Luxembourg and entered Germany, traveling through Koblenz and along the Rhine River, then continuing to Heidelberg. This part of the itinerary was designed not only as a performance tour, but also as a cultural experience, visiting historic and scenic regions.
As a note, everything on this tour was historic and beautiful, it really was. I remember saying that after the first ten or so ancient churches or very old historic sites, it became a little less dramatic though. By that time in the tour we were pretty tired and also thinking about when we could get some rest or find somewhere to eat.
I remember we went on the Rhine River cruise. It was so cool. In Europe the legal drinking age was 16. So being 17 years old, I did not want to be an ugly American, and not have a drink.
The Rhine River Cruise
On July 21st, we then traveled from Heidelberg to Munich, with sightseeing stops along the way, including Dinkelsbuhl and Dachau.
Walking through the grounds at Dachau brought on a very solemn tone and history’s reality was staring us right in the face. The tour was not just about music, it had a very important educational purpose, to expose us to European history, the good and the bad.
Dachau outer gates
Dachau ovens
Dachau Memorial
On a lighter side, Dinkelsbuhl was what I had always pictured in my mind for what Germany would be like. It was a happy, peaceful town with wonderful people, great food and a beautiful country side.
On July 22nd , we stayed in Munich, toured the city and gave an afternoon concert.
On July 23rd, we departed Munich and traveled through the Bavarian region, stopping at Wies and Fussen. This including a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, before continuing to Krumbach.
Once we arrived in Krumbach, we were received by very gracious hosts. It was more of an international exchange than a standard hotel based tour stop.
I remember that evening as we got off our tour coach, people running up to us, and asking for our autograph. I was in that 30 second loop. It was like, what’s going on, I do not understand? You do not even know who I am. Then they kept asking and giving us concert flyers and a pen. Then it dawned on me, oh, you want my autograph. It was the first time in my life someone asked me for my autograph. It sounds kind of self centered, but I was more humbled than anything else. I realized we were representing America and that we were musicians who they respected.
The next day we were invited to lunch at the Mayor’s home and it was so awesome.
It was always a fun challenge to exchange conversations when you do not know the language. The great thing was that most of European students learn English somewhat, and they could basically understand some of what we were trying to say.
On July 24th, we rehearsed during that afternoon on stage, and then performed a concert there at 8:00 p.m. It was for Krumbach, as part of their town’s annual Festival Week, The Krumbach Festival. It was in combination with a concert performance with their own Krumbach Band.
The Krumbach Festival Poster - Saved from the tour
Concert at the The Krumbach Festival
Visiting and performing in Krumbach was one of the highlight memories for me. There was a new insight I learned while being in Europe. They love the arts and highly respect musicians. Unfortunately it is not like that in America. Later in life I lived in Los Angeles trying to make it as a freelance musician. I had come to learn the usual response from people when they asked what I did, and I told them I was a musician. I had grown up believing that it's something to be proud of but their response was usually oh, you must be doing drugs if you're a musician and someone not to be trusted. That was the standard response from a majority of people I met for the first time. It was not until they got to know me, that they realized, oh you’re a normal person, just trying to live your dream and be a good person.
Back to the story:
Another highlight was visiting the world famous The Hofbräuhaus House, which was so awesome. It's a very famous drinking house and almost impossible to get in during Octoberfest.
The Hofbräuhaus House: I'm Pictured Right with our Conductor Center
Switzerland
Lucerne, Lugano, and La Chaux de Fonds
July 25th through July 31st
Itinerary July 23rd - July 25th
On July 25th, we left Krumbach and traveled through the famous Black Forest, stopping in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, including a visit to the Rhine Falls, before continuing to Lucerne.
Hiking through the Black Forest to visit a Castle
A few of us got to walk through the Holy Bridge in Lucerne. It was built in the 14th century and had been restored several times over history. It was preserved to it’s original construction as much as possible.
The Holy Bridge From When We Where There
Article About The Holy Bridge Fire
Unfortunately, in 1993 the bridge was completely burned down, and was advised to have been caused by teenagers playing with fire. All that history was gone. The good news is that a new Holy Bridge was amazingly rebuilt within a couple years.
Here the story about the bridge, the fire, and the rebuilding: The Holy Bridge Story
Itinerary July 26th - July 30th
On July 26th, we spent the day in Lucerne. This was primarily a cultural and sightseeing day, with time to explore the city and its landmarks.
While there, I wanted to try and open a Swiss bank account, just to say I had a Swiss bank account. (Remember, I was 17 at the time, still figuring out life.) So I actually went into a bank that was near the Holy Bridge, and asked if I could open a bank account. They were very nice and professional. We sat down and they asked if I was a Swiss citizen to which I advised no, I was an American. They said I had to be a citizen of Switzerland to open a bank account. I said ok and thanked them. It was fun trying, at least I could say I tried.
On July 27th, we traveled south through the Swiss Alps to Lugano where we stayed for the rest of the day and night. That evening, we gave an 8:00 p.m. Concert in Piazza della Riforma, an important public performance location in the Italian speaking region of Switzerland.
Concert in Piazza della Riforma
On July 28th, we left Lugano and traveled into France, heading to Chamonix in the Alps.
Chamonix Resort
On July 29th, the itinerary included a journey by cable car over the mountain region into Courmayeur, Italy, where we gave an afternoon concert in the town square. Afterward, the group returned to Chamonix.
Concert in Courmayeur, Italy
We traveled through the Mont Blanc Tunnel which is a 7 mile long tunnel deep in the mountains connecting Italy and France. It was wild and a little eerie traveling through this long tunnel, and traveling, and traveling before you ever see light on the other side. Did I mention it’s a long tunnel, deep in the mountain?
Our Drive Inside The Mont Blanc Tunnel
Here is a bit about the famous tunnel which was made in 1965 and still used today.
What Is the Mont Blanc Tunnel? The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a major road tunnel connecting Chamonix, France to Courmayeur, Italy, cutting straight through the Mont Blanc Massif in the Alps. Spanning 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles), this engineering marvel is one of the busiest and most important Alpine crossings in Europe. Mont Blanc Tunnel
On July 30th, we departed Chamonix and traveled to La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, where we rehearsed and later gave an 8:30 p.m. concert at La Salle de Musique.
Concert at La Salle de Musique
This performance hall has to be the best performance structure I have ever performed in, ever! It was advised to be an exact duplicate of Carnegie Hall. The acoustics were so impressive. I remember during our rehearsal, I was standing on stage and one of my band mates was standing in the balcony, farthest from the stage. We could could have a normal conversation with each other. We were speaking in a calm level tone and volume. I could hear him, every word, like he was standing right in front of me, but he was actually several hundred feet away and about two stories higher than I was on stage.
Later that evening, when we performed the concert, the acoustics were so sensitive that I could not say a word or release my spit valve, unless the rest of the band was playing loudly. If I made any sound when the band was playing a soft part of a song, or in between songs, you could hear it so clearly. This made the concert performance so good though. Imagine if you could see a band perform live, and hear every single note from every musician. It was as clear as day, no matter where you were seated in the audience.
The upside to this level of acoustics, is that when the music is being performed so perfectly, it sounds sooooo good. But if someone is the least bit out of tune or chips a note, everyone will hear it. I remember our piccolo player. She was a very good musician and every concert she nailed her parts, especially her solo. This one concert though, we all felt so bad for her. She was just a tiny bit out of tune and in that performance hall, it sounded like nails on a chalk board. We knew she was an exceptional musician, but this was just something that could happen to anyone, but this was at the worst possible time and venue.
On the up side this concert was recieved so well by the audience, and especially significant because it was being reviewed by a professional concert newspaper called L’Impartial. They wrote a review of the concert which was published on July 31, 1979. The review praised the ensemble’s quality, discipline, and performance level. The review identified our group as the Wind Instrument Orchestra “The Diplomats” and specifically praised our conductors Roy Johnson and Laurie Neeb.
L’Impartial, Concert Review - Translated- published on July 31, 1979
It also mentioned our concert repertoire: • Holiday for Trombones • Thunder and Blazes • Mr. Dixieland Fronts the Band • The Emperor’s Waltz • Old Comrades March • Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna
France Chamonix and Paris July 28th through August 2nd
Itinerary July 31st - Aug 3rd
Although Chamonix served mainly as a travel and lodging point in the Alps, France became a major late tour stop when we arrived in Paris on July 31st.
After Taking the Cable Car to the Top of the French Alps
Top of the French Alps
I’m sure everyone has had a traveling experience where you spend more money than you budgeted for, so as this was for me. At that time, my job was working as a courtesy clerk (Bag boy) at a grocery store. My income was not that much. So before we arrived in Paris, I contacted home and asked if my Mom could she could cash my weekly paycheck which had been issued while I was away. She did and wired the money to a bank in Paris.
So while in Paris, I had to go to this bank on our day off of course. So I finally found the bank which was actually down the street from the Arch De Triumph. Just as I was opening the entrance door to the bank, someone from inside grabbed it, and shut the door. He yelled at me in a way, that you would imagine a french tone sounding like. He said the bank was closed and he would not let me in.
So now, I had to find a way to get back to the bank the following morning and then return to the hotel before our 3:00pm concert. So the next morning I left the hotel early, noting the street names so I could get back in time.
I took the subway which included a couple connections in order to get to the bank. I finally arrived at the bank and was able to get my money, but now I only had an hour to get back to the hotel. (One of the conditions to be on the tour is that you will not miss any performances. If you do, you will be immediately sent back home.)
Knowing this, I was basically running back to the subway, while trying to decipher the street names in French. What I did not realize until that moment, was that all the street names I had memorized were entitled with some form of the word “Rue” which I later found out later meant “Street.” So I was basically out of luck, because every street name I memorized contained the word "Rue." I had gotten lost for the moment, but I did not have the luxury of time to panic.
When I finally popped out the subway, I ran full speed to the hotel. It was also the exact time we had to leave for the concert. As I ran to the hotel entrance, I could see everyone was seated in the coaches, parked in front of the hotel. I ran as fast as I ever had up a few flight of stairs, threw on my tux and ran back down with my horn. I just made it, just barely. Luckily they knew I had to go to the bank, and they were understanding.
We then arrived at our concert location and gave a 3:00 p.m. concert in the gardens of Luxembourg Palace. That performance was notable because it was one of the most culturally significant locations of the tour.
On August 2nd, we left Paris after additional sightseeing. We also visited The Palace of Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles was probably the most beautiful palace, of all the palaces we saw. It was amazing actually. The crazy thing I remember was that although it has so much historical significance, you could still rent a row boat and row in the palace lake, inside the gardens. At the time, that seemed so odd. It almost took away some of the mystery and magic that existed at The Palace of Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles Lake
The Palace of Versailles Official Link: Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles Group Photo
We also stopped in Rouen, and then continued to the port city of Le Havre, where we boarded a ship for the overnight crossing into England.
Overnight crossing into England
England
London and the final performances
August 3rd through August 6th
Itinerary Aug 3rd - Aug 6th
On August 3rd, we arrived in Southampton, England, then traveled to London, where sightseeing continued.
On August 4th, the tour reached an important milestone. That morning, we had a recording session at the Music Center at Wembley. This recording session was for an album, to later be produced.
This London recording session appeared to have gone well because our Conductor, Roy Johnson, later advised that he had heard the recordings from the session and was pleased with the results. He also stated that the recording would be on the album.
Recording session at the Music Center at Wembley
I am still trying to get a copy of the original album, but I was able to locate this one track: “Stars & Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa. The Diplomats: Stars & Stripes Forever
After the recording session, we performed a 12:30 p.m. concert in London, as it was to be our final concert in London.
Our band remained in London on August 5th, with some time left for sightseeing, shopping and activities.
We had a special dinner that evening at King Henry the 8th's castle. It was another new experience. To be in such a historic castle, but also having dinner there while period entertainers were doing show.
Hatfield House Dinner in Henry the 8th Castle
Hatfield House Dinner in Henry the 8th Castle
On August 6th, we left London, flew to Brussels, then boarded a Sabena Airlines flight back to New York, arriving that afternoon and concluding the 1979 European tour. When we realized the tour was over and it was time to leave for home, we said our good byes. I felt I was a little different now. I felt I had a glimpse into my future, of what it could be and hopefully would be.
As far as my new trombone, I started the tour with a brand new Bach Stradivarius 16M, in a new black case. By the end of the tour the case looked like it had been on the road for several years. The case did it’s job though. My horn looked perfect and was pristine. Below is the current picture and condition of my Bach 16M case. It's not that far, in terms of wear and tear, from how it looked by the end summer 1979.
My Bach Stradivarius 16M Today
Some Photos of Interest, more original photos from our tour:
The Hofbräuhaus House Polka Band
You know, I do not have to say
Our subway ride to the Empire State Building. Yes, This is what New York was Like Then. Like being in the Warriors Movie.
If you would like to check out all the entire collect of photos taken of the tour, by the Tour Staff Members, please see the link below:
1979 Diplomats Tour Portfolio Gallery
This article is dedicated to my Grandpa John Gonzales. I visited with him in the hospital before I left on the tour. As a gift, he gave me $50, which was a lot of money back then. The day I arrived back from the tour, I went straight to the hospital from the airport and got to see him one last time. He passed away the next day.
