Definitely died with his boots on too. I'm glad for that. Seems his popularity was increasing again lately and he was to go on tour soon.
I'll be watching for the date of the St. Louis tribute concert and really hope we can get out there for it.
Too bad my daughter won't be competing for the scholarship out there, as she insists on going to a Christian college, and the nearest one that offers full rides to musicians is TCU. When she told me she had decided against any of the big Eastern music schools and instead was going to go to one with "Christian" in the name, she agreed that whether she got a full ride or not, only schools serious enough about music to offer full rides for it were worthwhile candidates.
I really love most of the articles being written about him. And am learning new things about him. Had no idea his first name was Walter. But I remembered his birthdate at one time and was one of the ones quick to join in singing Happy Birthday to him when he performed at a local church about 5 years or so ago on his birthday.
That concert really stands out in my mind because he performed a piece that I know is on one of his albums but I'd never heard before (I'm not even CLOSE to having all of his albums), but knew from listening it was a deeply religious song to him (I don't remember -- Buddhist?) and expressed in music a deep, loving relationship with his God. One of the few times my eyes have watered at a concert.
Geez, I've seen him perform so many times! But never had the pleasure of meeting him or attending any of his many clinics, despite the fact it was his fault I switched from tuba to trumpet in high school, and (much to my band director's chagrin) focused more on extending my range than increasing my technique.
Interesting timing because we perform Birdland in the Drum and Bugle Corps my daughter and I are part of (I get to screech a bit in it, as 1st Soprano bugle) and I've been digging through my old Maynard albums and CD's in recent weeks looking for a piece for me to arrange for the Corps (so far, "Gospel John" is way in the lead, but the wonderful solo that opens it doesn't fit the Drum Corps model very well, but I still want to arrange it and try it as a standing piece and see if it can become a marching/show piece).
Betcha next season's DCI competitions are going to be FULL of MF pieces!
