Arnold was a couple years ahead of me in high school. Band, in our high school, was very popular. We had a full orchestra with nearly every musical instrument represented.
Oddly... Guitars were not in our 'band'... but many chose to learn guitar and never joined the band.
My point here is: A HUGE percentage of our high school student body played one musical instrument or another.....
Arnold wasn't in band.... not the official school band NOR any of the garage bands the guitar players formed. BUT... Arnold was the most popular musician.
Yes, he played the accordion.
This was the 60's. About 1960, give or take a year or two, there was a talent competition. I played a trumpet solo. We had saxophonists, drummers, clarinet players, you name it. Arnold won the competition... and he was good, no doubt, but it wasn't his skill that won the competition for him... it was his song selection.
He chose as his song: The William Tell Overture.
Now I'm tempted to try and explain how well that solo by Arnold went over... but I can't... you would think I am exaggerating... instead I'll explain it this way.
Every year, from that moment forward, until Arnold moved away, and at every event held in our area... be it a Fair, a Wedding, couple funerals, yes, I said "funerals", Parade, fund raiser, no matter... Arnold was asked to play the accordion... and ALWAYS it had to be "The William Tell Overture".
Arnold went to college, then moved to Missouri, near St. Louis, where he resides to this day. For years after when he returned home people gathered from miles around to hear Arnold play The William Tell Overture.
Arnold's visits back home eventually became fewer and fewer. Today I see him perhaps once every two years, at church. He comes for Christmas, sometimes Easter.
Couple year's ago he was at church... we were, are, good friends, grew up together... so we were talking and it occurred to me to ask, "Arnold, can you still play The William Tell Overture?" He smiled, replied, "Yup". He went on to tell me that to this day he's still asked to play occasionally.
If their is a musical legend from our area... and there are a few, "Ray Camacho" attended Tranquillity High, some other's had success...but none of them are remembered as well as Arnold.
One last thing, I must mention. Then, and now, I was, am, one of his biggest fans. - JamesJM
P.S. This would make a good Facebook story... I may do that.