Al Marineau – Trombone Artist / Feature Man
Al Marineau – Trombone artist
Al Marineau, formerly located in Missoula as trombone player and entertainer of Sheridan’s Orchestra, is now making records with Art Landry’s orchestra, which organization is also playing at the Roseland Dancing Palace in New York. His is not only playing with them, but is their “feature man.” In each one he either takes very prominent trombone solo passages or sings sometimes, or even doing both.
The success of this boy is an example of high ambition and determination. When he was here less than four years ago, he used to say, “I’ll be up there making records with the big boys some day,” which remark was always good for a laugh from his fellow musicians. He always practiced several hours a day and haunted music stores to learn what he could from recording trombonists.
After leaving here he attended the University of Idaho for three years, serving all that time as leader of the “Pep Band” which gained wide fame on the coast during football and glee club trips; he served one year as cheer leader and with all these activities in addition to running an orchestra, he made an enviable record as a student.
Since leaving here he has made several tours with his college orchestra, playing Missoula twice; one of these trips was to the Orient as ship’s orchestra on one of the President Line steamers.
His ambition and boundless energy have finally placed him at just about what may be considered the top of his line. At the age of 22 years he would very likely be chosen among a comparatively few best trombone players; in addition to this distinction he is a vocalist and has mastered the cornet.
Another Missoula boy to attain national fame in this line is Harry Owens, now conducting his own orchestra, which is considered the most popular in Los Angeles. His fame is more as a song-writer, although he has made records with Vincent’s orchestra, which organization played at the Ritz-Carlton in New York. His success, like Marineau’s, is due to high ambition and never-say-die energy and good hard work to back it up.[1]
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on January 13, 1926.
Marineau was a sister of Mrs. Ray Small of Missoula.
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