“Dad had an excellent saxophone he have of a beneficial Navy motorboat,” he states. “This new boat ended up being torpedoed, as well as closed the newest motorboat out to keep it out-of sinking. Plus you to definitely close-off section, there is certainly which horn. And so the Uk sailor provided they to help you your. In addition to pads had all the distended, therefore the horn are h2o-saturated and you may everything. Very a friend off mine states, ‘Well, we are going to enhance it up!’ So he bolted down a few of the keys so they really won’t problem. I am having fun with a good horn that have about three secrets bolted off. I found particular pads and changed new shields. Hence was my personal horn.

“Therefore i played this horn to own a beneficial when you’re to analyze involved, trying to learn how-to get involved in it. I quickly receive this Navy master who had a mechanic shop and then he fixed it therefore i you will at least play on the full spectral range of the fresh new horn. Every tips were sooner unsealed, and that i can use the points. So i then progressed very punctual ranging from then and you may for you personally to head to college or university. They had a good 20-piece orchestra and you will an effective marching ring, and i is actually the full-fledged audio big,” he states. “I been able to end in three-years. We done with good bachelor’s out of sounds knowledge. We lived-in luvfree Western Virginia an entire year messin’ to, to tackle in one of the clubs.

Inside 1950 he finished away from Western Varginia State College or university that have a good B. But he soon turned to help you tunes (basic jazz, after that Roentgen , with visited have fun with the saxophone. About second half of the 1950s he handled a band when you’re holding off a coaching blog post during the Suffolk High-school.

A good. studies, majoring in the architecture

“From inside the 1951, We came on home and you can arrived at see what I could perform within the sounds,” says Barge. “We been running around with Clint Turner’s ring from inside the Virginia, which was among better rings in the area. Once I got straight back, Clint Turner is towards the his way down. He’d received dated. The legendary bands which he had had within the Norfolk, Virginia had got their day and age. Then i enjoyed various other more mature man titled Sam Harris.

“We shaped a band and you may started to experience during the some of the clubs toward outskirts out of Virginia Seashore and you may places in that way. Virginia Coastline had these nothing alcoholic drinks houses into brand new trees. Then i also played out on the fresh new seashore alone. The brand new coastline nightclubs sustained because they didn’t promote whiskey. One managed to get most, really financially rewarding to your bootleggers, because you wouldn’t promote legitimate whiskey. Therefore, the bootleggers generated corn alcoholic beverages and you can offered it inside bones and you will immediately after-instances clubs.” He had several main influences into the sax. “Lester Young are certainly one of ‘em, and i also guess you might state Coleman Hawkins. After which later on you will find Arnett Cobb and you will Illinois Jacquet. I got to discover every one of ‘em, except I did not get an opportunity to look for Coleman,” he says. “‘Prez’ try my personal head child.”

I visited college and you will entered a dance ring there, and turned into a prominent unicamente saxophonist

“I had having a disc jockey which had been operating within a good station titled Wrap in the Norfolk,” says Gene. “Their name try Bill Curtis. He had been brand new emcee, as well as was basically powering locations using his station for this bar titled Cedarboro Country Bar off inside the Virginia Beach, back to the newest trees. It actually was an excellent club. He had been claiming, ‘Kid, you really need to listing. Maybe we could do something.’ Because the the guy and i have got to feel really good loved ones. Thus the guy titled Phil Chess and you will asked Phil Chess about any of it. Phil Chess said, ‘Hey kids, you really need to generate a recording and posting they in my experience.’