In Memory of Larry Perry (July 29, 1920 - August 11, 2011)

Larry Perry, lead trombone. Bigger picture is 42K. Larry played lead trombone in the band in October, 1985. (He doesn't really play one-handed; he's just posing for the picture.)
Larry posed with the Northeast Orchestra low brass section, November 9, 2008.The other section members are Bob Scott, second trombone, Glen Newton, bass trombone, and Sam Sharp, tuba. Larry Perry, first trombone with Northeast Orchestra
Former Role in Roseville Big Band: 

Lead trombone

Member during: 

1978 through 1984

Occupation: 

Retired high school business education teacher

Larry joined the Roseville Big Band in 1978 at the invitation of Phil Florine. Phil played lead trombone in the band, directed by Bob Lancette, and he also played trombone with Larry in an adult education nighttime band directed by Sam Marks at Johnson High School. Larry had just retired from teaching at Johnson High School and was resuming the musical activities he had put aside for more than 25 years.

Larry started on third trombone but quickly moved up to sharing the lead trombone book with Phil. He also played in the Roseville Community Band and soon joined the Macalester Band and Minnesota State Band as well.

In 1984, Larry left the Roseville bands and joined the Inver Hills Community College band and jazz band.

For several years, Larry played trombone in the St. Anthony Civic Orchestra, and he spent eight years, through 1999, in the pit bands for the Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company.

He also played trombone in the Goldentones, the Star of the North Concert Band, the Bavarian Musikmeisters and the Richfield Legion Band. He was principal trombone of the Northeast Orchestra, the same musical organization in which former Roseville Big Band member Brian Dole played principal bassoon.

Larry began playing trombone in seventh grade, after three years of piano lessons. Throughout high school, he played in bands and orchestras, and after graduation, he enrolled at Duluth Teacher's College (now University of Minnesota - Duluth) as a music education major.

After joining the National Guard in 1940, he was inducted into the army in 1941 and served as an army band musician. He was wounded in action in December, 1943, in Italy, and was awarded the Purple Heart. After recovering, he joined one of the army's traveling shows, entertaining troops in North Africa and Italy.

After returning to the states in October of 1944, Larry continued as a trombonist with an army show that entertained at air bases and hospitals and played for shows as part of the drive to sell war bonds. Discharged from the army in September of 1945, Larry gave up his musical activities until, nearing retirement, he asked Dick Polumbo, the band director before Sam Marks at Johnson High School, for help finding a trombone so he could play music after he retired. This led to his extensive involvement in the full spectrum of instrumental performance he enjoyed until the walking, carrying, and climbing steps became too much for him about eight months before he passesd away.

Larry is buried at Fort Snelling.

This page was last updated
Tuesday, October 05, 2021.


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