Angel Band

The Sacred and the Profane in the Pacific Breezes

Editor’s Note: This edited essay was originally posted in July 2023.

My career as a musician is unremarkable but not without highlights. Some of my most memorable performances occurred during my brief sojourn in the Pacific Northwest, circa 1989.

I occasionally played guitar with some guys. One day our trumpet player asked me to accompany him as he played “Angel Band,” an old gospel tune, at his grandfather’s burial.

When I arrived, the gravesite was crowded with family and WWII servicemen in uniform. My friend was late (he couldn’t find the site - a common problem).