My Brush With A Celebrity - Tommy Cortez

Ray Charles (public domain photo)

A couple of years ago our youngest son had to choose between chorus and band, which sent us frantically searching for an affordable trumpet at flea markets, pawn shops and on ebay. After a futile effort to master the trumpet, we recently decided to list it on ebay (the horn is shown below) and got several interested responses. In fact, the gentleman who bought it mentioned that he was a professional trumpet player and signed his last email as follows:

Tommy Cortez, Trumpet

Ray Charles Orchestra

Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, etc.

Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Xavier Cugat Orchestra, etc.

I wrote him back for an explanation only to find that Mr. Cortez played trumpet with the Ray Charles Orchestra and several others, and he is still performing. Mr. Cortez writes:

"Ray was an extraordinary person and musician. Before joining his orchestra, I had already finished the Conservatory and had several years of 'Las Vegas'type of show band experience. Going into Ray Charles Orchestra was like going back to 'school'. Ray was the great teacher and I was the 'student'eager to absorb his very different concept of music and musicianship. I was already a 'Pro', but Ray Charles provided my career the greatest learning experience about musicianship. Anyone can eventually play "Flight of the Bumble Bee" or, with a extraordinary embouchure, scream high notes,but there is a whole world of musicianship in between those skills. Ray filled in that gap of awareness for me. It is a shame that many of the new generation players will never be able to be exposed personally to the great masters like Ray Charles. I can hear it in their playing and interpretation........

Ray Charles was also positively addicted to his music. He was totally dedicated to music excellence. He was truly a musical genius. He could hear anyone playing one bad note! .... or, also a very good note too. He could bring out the 'magic' and beauty in anything he and the orchestra played! I will always remember him with nostalgia and highest regards."

Thank you, Mr. Tommy Cortez for my "brush with a celebrity!" It's been so cool!