Band is still in step with each other

Mark R. Madler

In the years since the members of the Burbank Police Boys’ Band last

made music together, they have gone on to successful careers in many

fields in many parts of the country.

But later this month they will come together for their first-ever

reunion to reminisce about the days when they were part of one of the

top youth bands in the area, taking part in events such as the

Tournament of Roses parade.

“I’m more interested in them than the people I went to high school

with,” said Brian Hill, a graduate of John Burroughs High School, who

now lives in New York. “We had that common denominator of music.”

Hill joined the band while attending Jordan Middle School and

remained until 1967, when he left for college.

He publishes a newsletter for band alumni and is the principal

French horn in the New York Repertory Orchestra.

In existence from the 1950s to the late 1970s, the marching and

concert band at times had up to 200 musicians who wore black wool

uniforms nearly identical to those worn by Burbank Police officers,

their sponsor along with the city’s park and recreation department.

As the name would imply, all the musicians were boys, but its

auxiliary units of flag carriers, majorettes and rifle twirlers were

made up of girls.

“It was the area youth band at the time,” said Joanne Miller, who

had been a majorette for four years for the band. “You had to

audition and qualify. It was very prestigious to be in the unit.”

The reunion was organized by Miller, a local business owner, and

Bill Kuzma, a musician in the band who later became its director and

who now works for the Newark Unified School District in Northern

California.

The response so far from band alumnus has been tremendous and she

expects up to 200 people to attend, Miller said.

“There is an attachment you just can’t outgrow,” Miller added.

“Between Bill and myself there are many members we still keep in

touch with.”

Founded in 1953 by Ben Porter, the band attracted musicians from

the city’s junior high and high schools for more than 20 years.

Some members continued in the music business while others found

fame in films, such as one-time clarinet player Tim Burton.

The band morphed into a co-ed ensemble named the Burbank Police

Youth Band that disbanded in the late 1970s.

Burbank Police Department Lt. William Berry recalled that as a

trombone player in the early 1960s he was taught discipline and how

to strive for excellence.

The group had such fierce pride that it could often outplay bands

twice its size in competitions, said Berry, one of three officers in

the department who are band alumni.

Although his interest in the trombone waned once in college,

participating in the band still had an influence on Berry’s career

path.

“We would talk with the officers and they would give us tours of

their cars,” Berry said. “It’s what got me interested in police work,

especially in Burbank.”