When I was at University Of South Florida (the first time), I played trumpet
in the wind ensemble (fancy for the band). There were some world-class players in that group. Back then I was fairly new to the guitar and self-taught. Joyce James was the oboe/english horn player in the ensemble. She s spectacular as a player,
and, she can sing like Streisand. I'm not sure if she played in the Florida Orchestra at that point. In fact, I'm not sure now if it was called TFO back then. Many of our teachers held principal chairs in the early
days of the symphony.
Somehow, Joyce heard me playing my guitar. I remember she was captiv-
ated by that hypnotic Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection rendition of Love Song I'd learned. I really can't remember much about the origins of this. I know we were friends when I left. I had started USF in 1967. I know I went back in 1977. I can't recall how we reconnected, but I'm pretty sure that Joyce (now Joyce Carrasco) introduced me to John DiMura. John is a bass player. At this point, Joyce and John were both in the Florida Orchestra. They wanted to form a trio to give Joyce a platform to sing pop. Why they chose me, I'll never know. You've got to understand the caliber of musician these two are. Players in TFO are the créme de la créme of their art. I remember feeling a bit humiliated when we played at a party for the orchestra. I was really intimitated by those people heariing me. I can be confident with my own music, but I'm not the strongest player for covers.
We recorded a 5-track CD in an afternoon. I remember we did Girl From Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto), I Feel The Earth Move (Carole King), Evergreen (Barbra Streisand) Nine To Five (Dolly Parton), and When Will I Be Loved (Linda Ronstadt). I have those tracks but I don't think I'm allowed to post them due to copyright.
I stayed in touch with John through the years. Many times he's given me free tickets to the orchestra concerts. I don't think he was saved when I met him, but he's gung-ho for the Lord now. He's still with TFO, but they're hampered by Covid.
I think he told me that Joyce moved back up north and this has been many years now. I found the photo of her online some years ago.
