Difference between revisions of "Jack Normand Trio"
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| − | The Jack Normand Trio was the original name of [[Ro Reddick]]'s father's band in the | + | The Jack Normand Trio was the original name of [[Ro Reddick]]'s father's band in the 1940's. The group was comprised of Sage "Jack" Normand on piano/accordian, Pat Cook on upright bass and horn, and Vaughn Gammon on vibraphone and drums. It was in 1941 that Jack and his trio were first invited from their home in New Orleans to play for the reopening of a resort hotel in south Alabama called the [[Grand Hotel]]. After the war, they contracted him to play again for "a two-week gig," as Jack would tell it, but then "they never let me go back home." |
| − | The years went by, and night after night the Jack Normand Trio played | + | The years went by, and night after night the Jack Normand Trio played at the hotel until late. As the time passed, the musician's families grew, and when Jack discovered his five offspring had musical talent, he recruited them to help in his band. One by one, he gave each of his children (willing or no) experience playing in his band, until all were capable of playing at least piano, bass or drums -- whichever was needed. Eventually, the Jack Normand Trio morphed into the Normand Family Band, as Jack's children filled in for the musicians who moved or died. The Normand Family continued to provide music to the Grand Hotel (eventually bought by Marriott in the 1980's) six nights a week until finally, their nightly gig came to an end in {{tellmemore}}. In total, Jack and his family were the "house band" for the Grand Hotel for an astounding 40+ years. Occasionally, a Normand can still be found playing in the hotel lounge or ballroom for a special event. |
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==Jack's Talented Family == | ==Jack's Talented Family == | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
| − | *Many TV/movie stars stayed at the hotel through the years and they all loved Jack's music, especially Joni Mitchell, who played beside Jack all night, and then went to his house later. | + | *Many TV/movie stars stayed at the hotel through the years and they all loved Jack's music, especially Joni Mitchell, who played beside Jack all night, and then went to his house later. Other famous guests the Normands played for include the Monkees, Tom Selleck, Red Foxx, Bobby Goldsboro, and David Carradine, to name a few. |
| − | *Jack and his family were featured by Paul Harvey on his | + | *Jack and his family band were featured by radio personality Paul Harvey on his show in 1981 |
| + | *Jack always had trouble remembering someone's name, but always managed to remember their favorite song. He would see a person walk into the hotel dining room and shout, "Hey, it's 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon'!" and then begin to play the song. | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 18 October 2007
The Jack Normand Trio was the original name of Ro Reddick's father's band in the 1940's. The group was comprised of Sage "Jack" Normand on piano/accordian, Pat Cook on upright bass and horn, and Vaughn Gammon on vibraphone and drums. It was in 1941 that Jack and his trio were first invited from their home in New Orleans to play for the reopening of a resort hotel in south Alabama called the Grand Hotel. After the war, they contracted him to play again for "a two-week gig," as Jack would tell it, but then "they never let me go back home."
The years went by, and night after night the Jack Normand Trio played at the hotel until late. As the time passed, the musician's families grew, and when Jack discovered his five offspring had musical talent, he recruited them to help in his band. One by one, he gave each of his children (willing or no) experience playing in his band, until all were capable of playing at least piano, bass or drums -- whichever was needed. Eventually, the Jack Normand Trio morphed into the Normand Family Band, as Jack's children filled in for the musicians who moved or died. The Normand Family continued to provide music to the Grand Hotel (eventually bought by Marriott in the 1980's) six nights a week until finally, their nightly gig came to an end in [???]. In total, Jack and his family were the "house band" for the Grand Hotel for an astounding 40+ years. Occasionally, a Normand can still be found playing in the hotel lounge or ballroom for a special event.
Jack's Talented Family
- David Arthur - drums and miscellaneous percussion, piano, bass
- Glenn Anthony - piano, drums, clarinet, bass
- Jeanine Ann - piano, bass, drums, clarinet, oboe
- Robert Andrew - piano, bass, drums, trumpet, cello, and many, many others
- Laurie Ann - piano, bass, drums, clarinet, bass clarinet, guitar
Trivia
- Many TV/movie stars stayed at the hotel through the years and they all loved Jack's music, especially Joni Mitchell, who played beside Jack all night, and then went to his house later. Other famous guests the Normands played for include the Monkees, Tom Selleck, Red Foxx, Bobby Goldsboro, and David Carradine, to name a few.
- Jack and his family band were featured by radio personality Paul Harvey on his show in 1981
- Jack always had trouble remembering someone's name, but always managed to remember their favorite song. He would see a person walk into the hotel dining room and shout, "Hey, it's 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon'!" and then begin to play the song.
