CMB Profiles: Sophia Appassionato

Photo courtesy of Sophia Appassionato

Sophia Appassionato

Sophia is in her 60's and has been with the ever-changing band since she was a small child. Her mother, Myrtle Appassionato, a founding member of the original band, taught Sophia to play the xylophone as soon as she was able to hold objects – in fact Sophia played one of her first gig’s in her pushchair! Sophia can play the xylophone and the glockenspiel in such an innovative way, the band would not be the same without her and she is therefore an integral part of the Chinewrde Marching Band. 

Unfortunately, due to an horrific accident (which the CMB seem quite nervous about when I bring it up) she can no longer march and as a consequence, she needs to be seated in order to play with the band. The band always seems to be able to find a solution for this and often borrow wheelchairs, wheelbarrows, and other forms of mobility for Sophia. It is comforting to know that a band like this care about their fellow members and will ensure that the band is indeed a diverse group of individuals.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Annie Greenberg

 

Annie Greenberg

I did try to interview Annie, but she was quite rude and argumentative, due to being deeply upset over a disastrous speed dating experience the night before. I have gleaned some insight about her from the other members and my own observations.

Annie is in her early 50's and has been with the band since her late teens. She is still looking for that special someone and has just recently applied to match.com. She has become increasingly jealous of the newcomer Felicity, who she feels is beautiful and has many admirers.

Some of the other band members have expressed to me that they have noticed her change in recent years, and that she is no longer easy to get on with. I think that in truth the band would be happy to be shot of her, because of her ever increasing argumentative nature that seems to me to have developed through her desperate loneliness and isolation.

I believe that she has become something of a liability recently, but the band members are too polite to ask her to leave. However, she is a fantastic oboe player and it is this and her dazzling features which maintain her massive following of admirers.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011



CMB Profiles: Dorothy Crochet

Photo courtesy of Dotty. This is a rare image of Dotty with the tribe of 'sqwistpe'

Dorothy Crochet

Dotty as she is known, is in her 80's and has been with the band since she was a girl. She takes the band very seriously and has always tried to learn a new instrument each year. Although due to her lack of memory recently she has lost a few instruments whilst marching. Her preferred instrument is the whistle, which she will speak about at length, telling anyone who will listen stories about how this particular instrument is important in all forms of music and communication. 

I did interview Dorothy, but as expected not a lot of her answers made sense. She doesn’t remember much and also tends to forget the question I have just asked - so it is a little difficult. I then asked the other members of the CMB about her and I got the feeling that they hadn’t realised anything was wrong. I sense that her decline has been slow over the years and they just simply haven’t noticed.
They do all seem very protective of her and she is in fact the member of the group who keeps them in line during the gigs, she keeps things running to time and I have to admit they would be lost without her – perhaps on some level they have noticed but refuse to accept the harsh reality.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011



CMB Profiles: Tina Clef

Scanned poster, courtesy of Tina.



Tina Clef

Tina is a 21 year old flute player and she has performed at many school functions in the past. She was ‘hand picked’ to join the band by Dorothy; who heard her play at a local fete in her home town.

Tina is a shy but talented girl who feels the band will spring board her into her chosen career of talent show competitions. Longing to be in the limelight on the TV, she feels that her confidence will increase as she marches with the band towards success.

During her interview she only showed interest when we spoke of her future, this band is merely a stepping stone on her way to becoming a famous celebrity.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Blind Smokin' Toots

Photo courtesy of Toots

Blind Smokin' Toots

Toots went to Louisiana in the early 1970’s looking for a Creole wife but came back with a sax and swamp fever. The illness left him with delusions of grandeur, further complicated by unwittingly taking copious amounts of peyote spiced Gumbo. Ever since, Toots is convinced he’s possessed by a once obscure but brilliantly talented blind musician, who died suspiciously in 1932. Now 64 years old, he lives in Kenilworth under the supervision of the local authority. Joining the band is part of an intense occupational therapy programme.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Barbara Mallone

Barbara on her way to a weight watchers meeting. Photo courtesy of Bab's

Barbara Mallone

Bab's as she likes to be called, is 38 and she has been in the band since she was 14. She is a fantastic tuba player and being the bubbly and fun loving person she is means the Bab’s really is the life and soul of the band.

Barbara was quite overweight and after some stern words from her Doctor she started an intense Weight Watchers course and has recently lost 5 stone. Due to her smaller frame she has been forced to switch to playing the recorder which is much lighter to carry. 

The Chinewrde Marching Band prides itself on being a totally eco-friendly band and therefore  all instruments and uniforms are recycled and so as a consequence,  Bab's has not been able to acquire a new uniform in her new size yet.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Lady Fleur Merlotte

Photo courtesy of Lady Fleur



Lady Fleur Merlotte

Born into aristocracy and raised in Nepal, Venice and Dudley, Fleur's childhood was dominated by severe peer pressure to excel at cello playing. It wasn't until 1962 after a complete nervous breakdown, a hair colour change and 21 parking tickets that she realised what she wanted to be - a snare drum player in a marching band.

She attributes the CMB with saving her life saying 'life was nothing until I joined the best band in the world'. She lives with her wife Poppy and several burnt effigies.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Stixx Malone

Photo courtesy of Stixx

Stixx Malone

After travelling the world to find the perfect drum role, Stixx settled with a team of Atlanta cheerleaders for several years, but after one drum stick too many he joined The Marine Corps. After 3 years of playing Taps enough was enough and he sailed to the UK in search of a new life and found The Chinewrde Marching Band.

Stixx now lives on a converted coal barge and enjoys listening to his large collection of Bert Kaempfert records.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Jerome Flabagaster

Photo courtesy of Jerome

Jerome Flabagaster

Making a guest appearance after recently leaving the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

A passionate and classically trained musician with a reputation for being highly emotional and sensitive. A dispute with Sir Simon Rattle, over an argument about playing the right notes in a different order, led to Jerome walking out and vowing never to return.  Seeking perfection elsewhere, the obvious choice was The Chinewrde Marching Band.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011

CMB Profiles: Felicity Blowhorn

Photograph courtesy of Felicity Blowhorn, Unfortunately the flash did not go off! 2009

Felicity Blowhorn
 
As The Chinewrde Marching Band’s newest member, Felicity Blowhorn is also it’s youngest. And despite her unusually broad shoulders and enlarged Adam’s apple, the 19 year old trombone player is keenly defining herself as the group’s 21st century pinup. In April she quite literally attempted to wrestle this mantle from the veteran Annie Greenberg when the two fell out over a rare and relatively in tune note. All feuds aside, Felicity has certainly turned a few heads in her short time on board and continues to attract a growing crowd of bald forty-something’s to the Band’s concerts.
 
However, our trombonist with the mostest is no stranger to the limelight. In 2009 she gave an untelevised performance at a Britain’s Got Talent audition in front of thousands and received the surprise of her life when Ant or Dec accidently touched her instrument. This brush from fame has given her an appetite to pursue her childhood dream of forming an all-brass marching girl band – a challenge for which she says she has the legs. You most definitely do Felicity.

Excerpt taken from Godfrey Yammertein's 'A profile of a Great British Marching Band', published March 2011