I first met Bill back in 1966. March 25th, to be exact. I can pinpoint the date because as I type this, I'm looking at the program from the old Bands of Tomorrow Contest. It was held at the old Hotel Philadelphia, on the corner of Broad and Vine streets. It was torn down many years ago.
Bill played baritone saxophone for the Northeast Catholic High School big band that day, and I played the same intrument for the Edgewood Regional High agregation. So Bill started his career as a bari player. I took a lot of pride in my skill and ability to handle the big horn back then, and it was great to hear Bill. Most high school bari players were converted alto or tenor players who couldn't handle the bottom of the horn too well. But Bill had his sound together. I could tell that he had much pride in his ability, he was a great player even at this early date.
As our careers progressed into the actual bands of tomorrow that the contest tittle referred to, I switched to the alto as my primary instrument, but Bill stayed "home", on the bari. But he would refer to some trait, or idiosyncratic characteristic relating to the baritone, and he would look at me and say something like, "Julian knows what the baritone is like", referring to those early days when we were both bari players.
Bill was a great musician, but he was a greater human being, a kind and gentle soul. The world of music, of musicians and saxophone players is less, missing some humanity, with the passing of Bill Zaccagni. Those of us who knew him, loved him, are going to have to try to pull his slack, be extra kind and caring, the way that Bill was. And we will have to put the same commitment to quality in the music that he did.
He was a great guy. I'm going to miss him.
. He was a nice guy and he taught me alot. Very sorry to hear of his passing.
