In late 1985, after it had become apparent that I would be living in the NY area during the coming summer, I decided to contact someone from the Sunrisers about membership. My drum corps mentor, Bernie Pack, put me in touch with “Stan.” I called him in connection with my first trip out for a Sunday rehearsal, which occurred on January 9, 1986.
The plan called for flying out from Pittsburgh on People Express (now defunct) and being greeted by Stan in Newark’s (now abandoned) North Terminal. Joe Thompson was along for the ride, and this was the black-van era (“Drive in a van, fast as you can, drive in a van like Stan…”). Notables present at my first rehearsal in Fairlawn included Ernie Hall, John Skarzenski, Billy Neurohr, Patty Antol, Judy Foster, Jailhouse Joe, Frank Ponzo (who I understand is now a Cab), Kathleen Thompson, Gary Williams, and Mike Longdo (it was also his first rehearsal with the Sunrisers).
It was a neat rehearsal, despite the low number of horns; we worked on “To Life.” Unfortunately, there was not much time for the bar because Stan had to take me back to the airport. Newark’s North Terminal was a zoo. The weather sucked. There was not a chance that my flight would head to Pittsburgh that night, so I accepted Stan’s invitation to stay in Bay Ridge that night. But first, we had some business to take care of back in Fairlawn (J.J.’s). I got quite schlockered. I don’t remember the drive to Brooklyn, but I guess Kathleen was there. As we walked from the van to the apartment, I decided to invent a new game called “Building Billiards.” Stan tried to keep me walking in a straight line and was quite annoyed by the spectacle I was making. When I think back on that night, I know I was ossified because I remember gaslights in the street (which probably are nonexistent since the 19th century in Brooklyn).
The next morning Stan took me to Newark. He thought I would never return…I did.
Glenn Beltz, 1986-1991: Baritone
