Marty's Goldenaires offer 4th of July concert

By CHARITY SMITH

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Bessemer - Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps recorded its Fourth of July concert Wednesday evening at Massie Field in Bessemer.

The concert will be posted on the Goldenaires' Facebook page at noon Saturday.

Organizers said this may be their only concert of the season as the Coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancelation of all the events on the schedule.

Only a few were allowed to sit in the bleachers Wednesday to take in the concert, including loved ones of Scott Eilken, a member of the corps who died in June.

"I thought it was a nice tribute for a long time member," said Tony Lupino, who plays the baritone bugle.

According to Pearce Graham, the group's spokesman, the Goldenaires had only been able to have four actual practices before the concert.

"Zoom practices are very challenging," said band director Dan Pitrone, who said the group had tried to conduct practices via Zoom early on in the pandemic, but it did not work out so well.

Graham said they normally have at least 10 practices before there first event of the season.

"So we weren't able to play any new songs, but we were able to put together a halfway decent concert," Graham said.

Wednesday's concert was recorded after a couple practice drills on the field. The only members of the public allowed to be in attendance on the field were Scott Eilken's fiancee, Cara Wagner; newborn daughter, Camille Eilken; father, Tom Eilken; and a family friend, Katelyn Sterbenz. Other spectators watched from outside the fence or listened from their nearby porch.

"I thought the performance went well. It was nice to be able to do something for the community and for the Fourth of July," said Chris Wuorinen, who plays the soprano bugle.

The Goldenaires played a patriotic line up including "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful." They also played other favorites including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Wipe Out."

"It was a really nice performance and they played all the right songs," said Tom Eilken.

The group honored Scott Eilken's memory by placing his bass drum the middle of the group with his feathered hat and drumsticks sitting on top.

"Seeing his drum front and center meant everything to me," Wagner said. "It was very emotional."

Eilken had played with the band for 18 years, since high school according to his father. Scott Eilken had played baritone bugle, but switched to playing bass drum about five years ago, Lupino said.

According to Lupino, Scott Eilken was responsible for a lot of the group's choreography. "Which makes it bittersweet every time we play, because it reminds us of Scotty," he said. "His legacy lives on with the choreography and moves that we do. We'll miss him. I played with him for many years, and I was very sad to see him go. But I am glad we could do this for him."

Bass drummer Jonathan Soderman said that being a member of Marty's Goldenaires means being there for the people, and giving back to the community. "We play. We have a good time and we give everything to the fans and for the community," he said.

Graham described the concert as very emotional for both the band, and for Scott Eilken's family and friends.

This was the final practice and only concert for the Goldenaires' 70th season. The group normally performs at 25 to 30 events every year, including numerous parades and local events.

"Half the people want to (perform) and half don't. A lot of people are hesitant because of this COVID stuff," said Pitrone. He said they vote on it but if they don't have a respectable number they are not going to do it.

The group is down members from past years. Pitrone said that when they performed at the Green Bay Packers game about 10 years ago they had more than 60 members, now they have around 40 and the members are getting older. He said they need some more members, particularly younger members. "We are always recruiting," he said. The band is looking forward to performing again together in 2021.

"We hope our fans and everybody have a safe, healthy Fourth of July 2020," Graham said.