To the Editor:

His mother, Louise Erney gave him his exact father’s name Walter A. Erney, but he was never a “Junior” and my name for him would be “Mr. Trumpet” because that is what he was.

Walter began playing trumpet in secondary schools and was first trumpet in the Liberty High School band.

After graduation, he joined the American Federation of Musicians Union in New York City and played many gigs in the Catskill Mountains area; marched in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parades; as well as playing in clubs where he was part of a back-up band for many famous vocalists while living in New York City.

After moving to Bethlehem, he began playing trumpet with the Liberty High School Alumni Band, the Bethlehem Legion Band, the Bethlehem Municipal Band, the Marine Band of Allentown and the Dixieland Five.

Somewhere in between, he served in the Air Force and was honored to meet two outstanding heroes of his, fellow trumpet players, Chet Baker and Harry James.

When his mother died in 2004, Walter stood by her coffin and played a very moving rendition of “Abide With Me” by her grave site.

Walter A. Erney died May 30, 2016, two weeks shy of his 80th birthday.

He is missed by many musicians, his faithful pet dog, Daisy, and I miss a great trumpet player and friend.

Ken Clauser

South Whitehall