|
My name is DENNIS RICHARDS
I was a proud member of the drum section in the late sixties.
I was a trouble maker..always was ..always will be.
MARVIN HELPED GET ME ON THE RIGHT PATH IN LIFE.
Marvin was always fair with me and the drum section when we got in trouble. AND WE GOT IN A LOT OF TOUBLE ..IN A NICE WAY OF COURSE. We were pranksters who pulled a lot of tricks and gags on all the band memebers and Marvin took it all in stride.
Once before a Vegas parade I filled Marvins hat with shaving cream..and as he was cleaning it out.. he was mumbling under his breath..."I bet Richards and the drummers are involved in this!"
My partners in crime in most of these hijinks ..were Bob Webster, Harold Wright, Steve Prescott, Gary Baudisch and Sam Stith.
Who could forget the pancake breakfast..the spaghetti dinners?
Some of Marvins principals of hard work, dedication and never giving up.. have stayed with me my entire life.
This was not just a marching band ..but a brotherhood/sisterhood that I will never forget!
Vegas .. the LUCY show in Salinas.. whos main performer had a strange resemblence to Walt White!! Who could ever forget these events
I remember greeting the Queen Mary in 1967 with the band playing as it sailed into Long Beach Harbor.
Some names from that time period ... Gene Gagnier, Dale Oates, Gary Baudish, Jerry Muzinski, Bob Webster,Steve Prescott, Harold Wright, Gordan James, Roger Keels, Jack Davis, Roy Queen, Dennis Scanlan, the Van Lew brothers, John Dingus, Sam Stith, Larry and Brian Johnson, Chuck Turner, Gene Berman, Eric Eshelman, Cynthia & Uncle Buck Endriss, Bob Aguillar, John Lopez, Jack Marinello, Lana and Bruce George, Jan Endriss, Dianna Barker, Ce Ce Matthews, Jim Davis, Sue Green, Debbie Oliver. I MISS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE!!
When the LBJCB took the street, we owned it!!
When I first started paying the drums, I was horrible.
After my first performance, I asked Marvin what he thought of my drumming. He looked at me, paused, and said "You have never been better!"
Marvin got back at me with a special job at the Christmas tree lot by Jack in the Box my first year. He let me hold the trees while they flocked them!! I looked like the abominable snowman after 3 minutes!! Marvin laughed and said I looked good in white!
While we were at the lot one night, an older lady came in with very little money and no car. She looked at a few trees, could not afford any and was telling us how her husband had just passed away and she was struggling financially.
As soon as Marvin heard this, he asked her if she had a choice of trees, which one would it be. She pointed to a nice flocked tree and said "That one."
Marvin had us load the tree in his station wagon, had the lady hop in with a couple of us and we drove her home by El Dorado park. While we set up the tree, Marvin said he would be right back. In a few minutes he returned with lights, ornaments and a wrapped gift for the lady, who at this point was in tears of joy. This was Marvin. It is what he did!
In the car on the way back to the lot, Marvin said "I hope you all learned from this. That we are all brothers and sisters on this planet, who must help each other in times of need."
He said "You make a living by what you make, you make a life by what you give."
I will never forget that lesson in life...ever!!
As a follow up to this story, this same elderly ladies son came back to our Christmas tree lot the next year and asked for Marvin. We said he was not here, but can we help him. He said his mother had passed away a week ago and he came here from Germany where he was stationed in the army to settle her affairs. He told us she had no other family and she wrote him and told him what Marvin did to help her last year in her time of need, and that Marvin would stop by occasionally to be sure she was OK. The son had tears in his eyes and said what Marvin did was a Godsend to his mother, who had just lost her husband of 47 years. The son was here to handle her affairs and wanted to thank the man who would do this for a total stranger. Once again, it was part of Marvins magic!
Marvin had a way sometimes of letting you know you screwed up with very few words. My second Vegas trip as a drummer we stayed at the "Lucerne Motel."
We did not like the small pool at the Lucerne Motel, and myself and a few drummers sneaked into the Cesars Palace swimming pool.
As we were sitting pool-side enjoying the sun...and the bikinis...a man walked up and asked us if we "needed any more towels?"
I turned over, took off my sunglasses, looked up, and it was Marvin!!
Needless to say we got out of there.. quickly!!
Marvin never said another word about it and we knew we were busted!!
Marvin got me one of my first jobs at Disneyland.
I had to get a work permit due to my age.
He said I would be a character - Pluto!
I asked Marvin why Pluto?
He said because Pluto cannot talk!!
Once at a parade in San Diego, a guy from some other band made a lewd remark about one of our flag girls. I demanded an apology. He and 5 friends surrounded me and said "who is going to make him apologize ?" I said. "Me!" They laughed as they moved in to attack me. Just as I thought it was all over, the entire drum section, alerted by Sam Stith, walked around the bus to where this was happening. Then formed a line between me and my assailants and Sam said, "You guys will have to come through all of us to get to Dennis." Needless to say they ran for their lives! The funny part is, no one asked me what started it. They didn't care, they just wanted to be sure I was safe. This really is the meaning of OBST!!
THEY SAY A MANS LIFE IS NOT JUDGED BY HOW HE DIES.. BUT BY HOW HE LIVES. IF THIS IS THE CASE, MARVIN WON THE SWEEPSTAKES TROPHY IN LIFE!
The sacrafices that Marvin, the parents, and all the band staff made were incredibile! We had no idea at that time how lucky we were to be invovled with LBJCB and Marvin Marker. Now here we are 40 years later!
I was trained by the likes of Bob Webster, Harold Wright, Steve Prescott, Larry Johnson to name a few. The Van Lew brothers took me under their wing and accepted me into the drum section. These guys were legends...always will be.
Walt White was also a legend back then, as were the infamous Vegas trips.
I remember the last parade in Vegas I marched with bloody hands in 112 degree heat and no one ever gave up ...ever! That was Marvins motto.
Rest in peace MARVIN. You have earned it my friend.
The world has lost a legend that changed the lives of so many young people, it can never truly be measured!
Marvin, we loved you like a father because you were our father when we went on trips, as our parents knew. You would watch over us and guide us when we were with you. And Marvin never wavered from setting us straight if we strayed.
Marvin, I will be up there in Heaven one day to say "Hello" to you, Mom, Uncle Buck, and all our fallen brothers and sisters,
and will be sure to bring some shaving cream!!
Imay need your help in getting in to Heaven, Marvin, so put in a good word for me! I hope God has a sense of humor like you do and accepts anybody and everybody, as you did.
In closing, I hope one day Marvin will have a statue in his honor in Long Beach.
I hope one day all the people that have had their lives touched by Marvin
will do the same for someone else.
I hope my son can one day do what Marvin did...treat each person you meet as an individual with respect.
I hope this band goes forward honoring Marvin at each performance.
I hope to see Marvin again one day.
I HOPE.
In regards to your last resting place Marvin....
Warm summer sun,
shine brightly here,
Warm Southern wind,
blow softly here,
Green sod above,
lie light, lie light,
Good night, Marvin
Rest in peace sir.
 Add as favorites (39) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 411
|
- Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article.
- Personal verbal attacks will be deleted.
- Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed.
- Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button.
- Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
|
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved |
Be first to comment this article