As I sit at my laptop here in Orlando sorting through photos of Disney World's Magic Kingdom, I recall the Seaford High School Band trip here in 1977. We marched down Main Street USA. The park was only six years old. No cell phones; cameras used film. We played a concert at Lake Buena Vista. I took movies with a 8mm camera. Mickey Mouse drove a boat with Goofey on water skis. We ate Florida pizza that probably didn't taste as good as the box it came in. And Joe Manso was the leader of the band.

As we come into the middle of 2008, I look back fondly at those times. Here was this high school band from Seaford, Long Island, New York at Walt's brand new theme park, one he never got to see. And we didn't have an exchange trip in 1976 because of the "Kingston Massacre" in 1975 (material for a whole other story). For the Class of 1977, this was it. Our long school music "careers" was almost history. It couldn't have been any better.

Our "Leader of the Band" Joe Manso was our teacher, director, mentor (sometimes tormentor) and friend. I am proud to have known Joe for all these years. He gave us the gift of music, something I treasure to this day. Even though I haven't played the tuba in the Community Band (formerly the Alumni Band) for several years, I still enjoy piano and guitar playing, and, of course, singing. Even if we "cut" out of school for a day, we ended up at third period band rehearsal. Now that's commitment.

Joe is finally "retiring" this year with his last concert with the Community Band and the Marion Male Choir on Saturday, May 17 at the Seaford High School, in the auditorium that bears his name (named when he retired from teaching in 1988). Fifty-one years in music, that special language that speaks to everyone. While I will be somewhat sad, I will be there to celebrate this special time and the 51 years that preceded this event. There are no words to describe a career that touched so many lives so positively with this gift of music.

If you haven't been to one of these concerts, this is your last chance. You can get more information on the "Life and Times of Joe Manso" at this website: http://www.prlog.org/10064066-long-island-musical-treasure-retires-joseph-manso-conducts-last-concert-after-51-glorious-years.html.