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| “Sunrisers’ Hall of Fame: Class of 2005” |
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| “Brass” |
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A 1964 quote from John Sasso about Brian O’Connell sums it up: “Get me a couple more
like him and it’s all over.” In reality, any corps would be fortunate beyond measure
to have even one Brian O’Connell. Yes, he was talented, a marvelous French Horn player who
fit like a glove in a section of Steve Buglino, Charlie Howell, “Skip” Heaney,
Tommy Leonard and the like. But Brian brought much more to the table. He was solid as Mt. Rushmore.
He never missed…anything…ever. And he would do anything for the corps: quit his job,
MC a banquet, ride with Gerry Noble…even play soprano when the need arose. And funny?
The man was “Mel Brooks with a Bugle.” What chutzpa, giving the notorious marching judge,
Hugh Mahon, a rubber stamp with 5 tic marks “to save him some time” the next time he
saw the Sunrisers.
Over the years, Brian created most of the comic awards for the corps awards
banquets and penned the notorious “Bonnie and Clyde” skit for the “Big Sounds of 1968”
stage show. He is also responsible for keeping alive the tradition of “The Sewer Song”
It doesn’t get any better than that… And it doesn’t get any better than Brian O’Connell.
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