Yesterday, When I Was Young…

 

 

                                                                                  By Arthur Bourassa

 

During World War II many young men were drafted to serve in the military, resulting in a shortage of men in the workforce.   This gap was also felt in the entertainment industry leaving band leaders to look to the youth of America to fill this void.  One such youngster was Arthur Borrassa,  who had been playing the sax since he was eight years old.  Arthur was tapped at the age of twelve to play with the Eddie Wilson Band and the Val Jacob Orchestra.  As he remembers “I played every night until midnight for the sum of $3.00”.  He wrote this story in 1998 for the Jazz Now Magazine, showing what life was like for a thirteen year old musician in 1946.

 

Yesterday, when I was young, I played a couple of gigs with Dave McKenna.  That was about 1946, I am not sure on the dates.  I was twelve or thirteen years old and played alto sax with the Val Jacob Orchestra.

Dave McKenna and his mother also performed for Val at that time.  Dave didn’t play very long with Val, because he went on to play with Ventura about 1949.  He must have been all of nineteen years of age, and there he was performing with headliners.  After his stint with Charlie Ventura, Dave went on to play with Woody Herman and his Herd.  Eventually, he established his own niche in the music world as one of the best pianists in the business.  He had and still has the best left hand in the field.

 

His mother, Catherine, was really the steady pianist for the bank.  Mrs. McKenna was so kind and loving, she was my mother on the gigs.  We didn’t have much printed music at that time, and I was kind of young to know all the tunes requested.  Mrs. McKenna would cover for me by playing lead throughout the tune and also take the solo while I backed her up.  I had to check with Dick Johnson, who in turn called Dave to verify Mrs. McKenna’s first name.  In all these years I never called her anything, but Mrs. McKenna.

One of the reasons I played on gigs at that time was that most of the adult musicians were in the military fighting World War II.  Teenagers and youngsters like me had to take up the slack.  There was plenty of work because most cities were wide open to servicemen on leave or furlough.  We were also recovering for the Great Depression, and for the first time in years there were plenty of jobs.  Our country wanted entertainment to help forget the uncertainty of war.  It was up to people like Mrs. McKenna to furnish the music that made people feel good.  Little did she know that she would become a child sitter and a tutor for me and a few others.

 

Check back soon to read more stories about the people we serve

 

 

 

NEW PROGRAM INTRODUCED INTO THE

CONGREGATE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM

 

Do you enjoy dining out at restaurants?

 

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island is introducing a new Senior Restaurant Program to be held at Chelo's Hometown Bar & Grill, 505 Silver Spring Street, Providence, Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

 

Coupons are $5.00 per person and must be purchased in advance through Meals on Wheels' main office.  There will be a choice of five different entrees to choose from (including a starch, vegetable and fruit) and beverage (milk, coffee or tea).  To be eligible one must be 60 years of age or older. 

 

To obtain your coupons, please call 351-6700 and ask for Pauline at ext. 125 or Louise at ext. 124.