I got off work a little early that day and made the trip through the canyon to get there just in time. With my giant Magnavox VHS camera perched on my shoulder, I began to record the very first live big band music I had ever heard. No amount of 78s, lps or even cds of the same music could have prepared me for the sound of a live brass section...chills, I tell ya.
Although Mr. Beneke no longer played the sax, due to a stroke, he got out there for the better part of 2 hours and Chattanooga Choo Choo'd and Kalamazoo'd his heart out. In between a few songs here and there, he would exit backstage while the 'girl singer' gave it a whirl. During one of those spells, my mom took the lp cover I had brought for just such an occasion up to the door where he exited through. Someone from his entourage discreetly took it from her and soon emerged with the cover signed. (Apparently Tex didn't do much signing back then...again due to the stroke. It was asked to keep low key on the autograph while back in the crowd.) When mom made her way back, I slipped it into the camera case without even looking at it. I felt like I had captured lightning in a bottle.
The only regret that day was that the camera battery died about 1 minute before the closing song (In The Mood) had ended.
Here are several clips from that day.
Moonlight Serenade
Medley: At Last / Serenade In Blue
Pennsylvania 6-5000
Perfidia
Chattanooga Choo Choo
