This Saturday marks the final performance for our Free Summer Series Concerts called, "What is Hip?" We hope you will come join us in Devou Park for a beautiful night during Labor Day Weekend. Pack a picnic, bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and enjoy gorgeous weather and exciting music of the horn bands of the 1970's!
Before the show, we want to highlight the trumpet players that will be playing during the show. Each has his own unique story and has traveled the world playing with big names such as Fred Wesley, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and more (just to name a few). They are well-versed and highly talented trumpet players, who are sure to put on an amazing performance this Saturday. Read more about each player below:
GARY WINTERSGary Winters’ career as a professional trumpeter started at the age of 8, when he took his first lessons on the trumpet. Five years later, he was performing R&B in nightclubs. After touring for 9 years with a show band, Winters became Director of Entertainment for The Red Onion, a nightclub/restaurant in L.A. Switching careers completely, Winters moved to northern Kentucky and worked in the corporate world for ten plus years. During a recording session in Bootsy Collins’ studio in 1998, he first met Fred Wesley, music director/arranger/trombonist/primary composer for James Brown in the late 60s-early 70s. That chance meeting led Winters to tour with Wesley for the past ten years, recently returning from a gig with him in Australia. His performance credits are varied and represent the biggest entertainment names both internationally and locally: Rosemary Clooney, American Idol Orchestra, CBS’s “The Genius of Ray Charles,” Manhattan Transfer, Franki Valli, The Temptations, Debby Boone, Lionel Hampton, Wayne Newton, Don Rickles, Aretha Franklin, Little Anthony, Michael Feinstein, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, The Reflections, Clyde Brown, Dee Felice Swing Band, The Blue Wisp Big Band, The Four Tops, Carmon DeLeone New Studio Big Band. In addition, he has recorded for some of Nashville’s top gospel groups, entertainment video games and national jingles.
Click here to read moreGREG WINGCurrently Professor of Trumpet at Morehead State University where he received a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Gregory Wing holds a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from Indiana University. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading trumpet artists, Wing has served as lead trumpet with Paul Anka, Tom Jones (for four years) and the Buddy Rich Big Band. He has played for virtually every major entertainer including Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra, as well as classical performances with Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra. As a studio musician for Westwind Musical Productions in California, he has recorded numerous commercial productions and convention soundtracks including the recent Winter Olympic themes.
Click here to read morePAT HESSIONPat Hession’s skills as a trumpeter were influenced from a young age by studying Maynard Ferguson’s recordings, which resulted in his lifetime dream of joining Ferguson’s band years later, playing with him for six years as lead trumpet until Ferguson’s recent passing. Following Ball State University, Hession worked the cruise ship circuit, before becoming third trumpet with Lionel Hampton’s Band. Touring with them on and off for four years, he then played lead book. In between touring with Hampton, Hession was awarded a full music scholarship to the University of Nevada. After graduating, Hession became lead trumpet with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, performing with them for two and a half years.
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