Ernie Belanger, biography

Ernie Belanger

Biography by Skip Parsons

Webpage by Cliff Lamere

25 Feb 2006, revised 4 Mar 2006

Tuba Sousaphone

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Bio by Skip Parsons

Ernest Edmund "Ernie" Belanger, VII
Tuba & Bass

In grammar school, he remembers seeing a bass player complete with cap, sunglasses, beard & attire of the day. When he was approached to join the school music program, Ernie said "I want to be a bass player." A week later, his father (a guitar - banjoist) brought home a tuba and said here's your bass - a bass horn ! Okay - - - Ernie took tuba & bass lessons through the program and became a part of the band & orchestra. Later on during the school years he played with a volunteer fireman's band and a number of rock & popular groups of the time. He also became an electric guitar / bass player, and led a band of his own.

After school graduation he joined the Navy & played Tuba & Baritone horn with the Lakehurst N. J. Naval Air Station Band. He then went on to a Naval air Station in New Orleans. It was at this time, he was awakened by the sound of early jazz. After a hitch in Yokosuka and Viet Nam he was discharged in 1968 and returned back home to Saratoga Springs, NY.

A short time later, Ernie was introduced to and played a few jobs with Skip Parsons' Riverboat Jazz Band of Albany N.Y. He was officially indoctrinated into the band at the Syracuse, N.Y. Bix Bash Festival in 1973. The rest is history... He has appeared almost entirely with the RJB since then. Ernie excelled on opportunities to play with the band which included guests: Doc Cheatham, Kenny Davern, Spanky Davis, Ed Polcer, Joe Myranyi, Speigle Wilcox, Bobby Pratt, Carl Lunsford, Ed Hubble, Tom Saunders & More. A big moment was at the Greenville, N.Y. festival when Major Holly showed up late and Ernie was asked to fill in with The Kings of Jazz featuring Pee Wee Erwin, Chris Griffin, Johnny Mince, Bob Wilber, Cliff Leeman and Bobby Pratt.

Some memorable times include: Two weeks at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, N. Y. with RJB for ABC-TV. Festival appearances include Waterloo, Lake George Hot Jazz Party, Bix Bash, Greenville & Hunter Mountain. Also many concert venues, Performing Arts Centers, Theaters, Music Halls, Colleges, Public TV, Resorts & More. Recordings with Skip Parsons' Jazz Bands, & Clarinetist Joe Slovak.