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MMD > Archives > September 2019 > 2019.09.11 > 02Prev  Next


Passing of Burl Updyke, Band Organ Enthusiast
By Wallace Venable

I certainly will miss Burl, and I feel privileged to have known him.
He was much more of a musician than most mechanical organ owners.

His Updyke Military Band Organ was not a replica, but a carefully
evolved organ inspired by the Wurlitzer 105.  It had MIDI control and
a blower from the beginning.  An early version of the organ, without
percussion, can be seen at "Wurlitzer style Band Organ - Handmade":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZglWWyM5G4g 

The more-or-less final version appears in "Sleigh Ride.mp4":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUEI1lb91zM 
  "A Band Organ Christmas featuring "Shirl Belle" a Military Band Organ
  styled after a Wurlitzer 105. My organ however also has bells and
  a conductor. The organ is MIDI operated, and took over five years to
  build. This is an updated rendition of Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride",
  arranged by Rich Poor. The latest improvement is to the snare drum."

The snare had 3 beaters, and Burl made sure that they played precisely.
The bells were on a separate MIDI Channel, not a standard W-105 feature.

The organ appears in a promo, "Carousel Melodies 4.mp4":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AITGEKV8bbM 

You can compare the conductor with Burl at about 1:22 into the video.

This 2011 Christmas video certainly doesn't sound like music from your
typical W-105!  "Band Organ Christmas Medley 2.mp4"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHwMJJmvlbs 

Burl managed to trailer to events regularly until he was over 85.

Wallace Venable


(Message sent Wed 11 Sep 2019, 21:22:30 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Band, Burl, Enthusiast, Organ, Passing, Updyke

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