The Trumpet Players
Rich Sonnenschein - Trumpet
Rich was born in New York City, grew up in the North Miami, FL, area, and began studying piano at age 8. Back in the 1960s, seventh grade marked a pivotal point in his musical career: picking an instrument. Had his name fallen earlier in the alphabet, the school oboe might have been the instrument destined for him, but he had to resort to Plan B: the Trumpet!
A fond memory from his youth is his mother’s playing the music of her day (before Dad got home from work!), thus introducing him to the styles of Bunny Berrigan, Harry James, and Billy Butterfield.
Many years later, in 1985, Rich got wind of a new concert band – the Olney Concert Band – that had formed, and met at his neighborhood high school. He dusted off his horn, and hasn’t put it down since.
In the intervening years, while continuing to play with the concert band, Rich branched out with a few different Big (swing) Bands. For him, playing with the Olney Big Band has been a most gratifying experience, bringing Big Band music to his community and beyond.
Bruce Morris - Trumpet
Bruce began his musical journey playing trumpet in elementary school. Born in Washington, D. C., he was fortunate enough to study with players from the President’s Own, Marine Corps Band; and to this day continues studying with well known professionals in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and the metropolitan D.C. area.
While in high school Bruce performed in both concert and symphonic bands and was selected to perform with the Maryland State Band. It was also while in high school that Bruce began playing with a local rock and roll band, “Lawrence and the Arabians” and subsequently “The New Breed”. For the next decade Bruce played in night clubs from Massachusetts to North Carolina and on several records and albums when the band was signed to recording contracts by both Mercury and Dot Records. During his time off from club dates with the “Arabians” Bruce played a number of shows for the American Light Opera Company and other local theatre productions including Guys and Dolls and The Producers. He also has played with orchestras backing up artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and others at D.C.’s, “Summer in the Parks” concerts series which was held at the original Watergate Band Shell. Also, while with the “Arabians” Bruce played for a number of popular groups that included the Isley Brothers, the Drifters, Dee Dee Sharp, the Marvelettes, the Platters and others famous Rock and Roll stars in concerts and club dates up and down the East Coast.
In addition to The Olney Big Band, Bruce also performs with The Swing Time Big Band, the Rockville Concert Band, The Olney Concert Band and many other groups on a free lance basis.
Ray Strucker - Trumpet
Initially from Florida but raised in Southern California, Ray picked up the trumpet and guitar in the seventh grade. He is a graduate of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Ray grew up playing with local big bands, rock bands, and entertainment groups in the Los Angeles area and as a professional musician in Central Texas he worked an endless number of club dates, musicals, and special events with styles ranging from straight ahead jazz, experimental jazz fusion, Latin, heavy rock, rap & hip-hop, reggae, funk, western swing, post-modern folk, garden variety cover bands, to the distinctive no-nonsense sound of horn-loaded Texas Roadhouse Blues. A veteran of countless studio sessions has allowed him to work with many world-class musicians, producers, and recording engineers. His talent as a horn arranger allows him to write for any style; from simple folk tunes to the heaviest of jacked up distortion-guitar rock. Versatility is everything. Bebop is his passion and he considers himself blessed to have spent valuable time over the years with his mentors in jazz: Conte Candoli, Bobby Shew, and Martin Banks. His motto--Play with intensity or don’t play at all.
