–submitted by Ellsworth Brown
Moments of Happiness: A Wisconsin Band Story, co-authored by Doug Moe and Mike Leckrone, provided more than a meeting’s worth of happiness for Rotarians as Moe interviewed Leckrone about his fifty years as UW-Madison Marching Band leader.
From a musical family, Leckrone’s inspiration was fueled by a stage-side seat at a non-stop two-and-a-half-hour performance by Louie Armstrong and his band in a small Indiana town. Armstrong’s commitment to even a small audience was not forgotten by Leckrone.
Moe’s questions triggered endless stories about Leckrone’s life, band, students, and stage creations from 1969 on. In fact, he began earlier with a story about meeting his future wife in seventh grade and extended it to sixty-two years of marriage.
Many UW Band traditions began accidentally: “When you say Wisconsin, you said it all” was a commercial injected with “Wisconsin”. The basketball “pep band” became the UW Varsity Band. Leckrone’s famous concert entrances offset his boredom with standard entrances. A career highlight: The 1994 Rosebowl parade where the band played “On Wisconsin” 137 times while passing by Wisconsin fans. Pride: The band played for all UW sports except fencing (ended too soon).
In closing . . . career and life well-lived, and presentation very funny besides!
If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/PJidZnF6uzc.
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 