I lost an Uncle to ALS…evil disease. He was one of the most talented musicians that I have had the privilege to meet. He was from down here in New Bern, NC. Played first chair trumpet as a freshman in high school, joined the US Army and was accepted into the Field Band during the Vietnam Era (after graduating from ECU’s school of music), earned his Masters Degree from Miami of Ohio, and shared the stage with Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie…not bad for a poor white boy from Craven County. My Uncle Jesse Nelson is my musical hero.
I have a photo of him with Dizzy backstage in Chicago during the 80’s if anyone is interested.
Chris, keep up the fight.
