Trumpeter. Harold A. Posey, Jr. born September 19, 1930 in Reading, Pennsylvania; died March 31, 2017 in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Played with Eddie Phyfe at Olivia Davis’ Patio Lounge in 1956 and with the Swanee Six at the Bayou in 1957. Toured with Woody Herman Orchestra in 1958. Joined Charlie Byrd’s group in 1966 and toured Europe and Africa. Appeared at Blues Alley as a leader through the 1970s. Recorded with Bill Potts in 1987. Member of the Gene Donati band in 1980s and 1990s before retiring from music in 1995.
Bibliography
Roberts, Byron. “Posey’s Horn Commands Audience.” Washington Post, May 10, 1964.
Segraves, John. “After Dark: Lonely Opening for a Fine Act.” Washington Star, February 3, 1972.
“Notable Deaths in the Washington Area.” Washington Post, May 2, 2017.
“Trumpeter at Showboat.” Washington Post, January 9, 1966.
Hal was my first teacher of the trumpet. He was a truly great musician and a fine flautist as well. In general the flute is not the normal doubling instrument for trumpet players. Two things I’ll always remember about Hal,
His appearance with bandleader Charlie Byrd on National television back in 1967. He’d taken the week off from teaching lessons and told me what channel that he’d appear on. And?
He brought a flugel horn into my lesson one day. An instrument I’d never been exposed to previously.
I was very young when I met and studied with Hal. He taught a number of my fellow students. A real tester on music theory. Much of my foundation and background in melody & harmony is rooted in my weekly lessons with Hal.
As a personality, he was kind of old school. A little gruff. Meaning quite strict. He insisted that I practice hard. I was a very young boy at the time and the strong desire that I’d eventually develop to play the trumpet wouldn’t blossom until a few years later when I became a teen.
I sorta feared him.