The Three Trumpeteers - Major Bowes Amateur Hour - Dec. 26, 1940

The day after Christmas 1940, my father Bud Yenne played in a trumpet trio with twin friends on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour in New York City. Major Bowes was as famous on radio in the 1930s and 40s as American Idol is on TV today, and listeners would vote for their favorite acts just like they do on American Idol today. The talent show helped launch the careers of famous performers such as Frank Sinatra and Beverly Sills. Dad's appearance on the show was popular lore in our musical family, but we didn't have the actual recording. Until now. The audio in the YouTube video below was obtained through the Library of Congress with the permission of the rights holder.
Dad and the Geiger twins (Don and Doug) were 16 years old from the "honor" city of Lakewood, Ohio, in this Original Amateur Hour program from Dec. 26, 1940. The Three Trumpeteers appeared in their band uniforms and were the first act that evening. Major Bowes converses with the nervous members of the trio before the performance -- the twins speak in unision, but Dad speaks alone. Then they triple-tongue their way through a performance of the The Three Solitaires.
The only audition paperwork for the Three Trumpeteers is shown in this YouTube video. Bud's letters from the Pacific during World War II can be seen here: www.lettersfromtheprairie.com

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[petelovesbevsills]

What a spectacular treasure of family history to finally get hold of!! You must be immensely proud of your Father's great talent...I LOVED it and Major Bowes was such a gentleman too!