In 1974 I was on tour with the 5^th Army Band Rock group called "Progress". I was sitting in the hotel bar with my fellow musicians and I noticed a gentlemen I recognized as Henry Mancini! I exclaimed to my buddies "hey that's Henry Mancini."

They all laughed at me. I smiled "I Betcha $10 bucks that's Mancini!" Everyone threw down a ten. I walked over to Mancini's table, "Sir, are you Henry Mancini?" He replied, "Yes, I am."

I looked over and smiled to my buddies at our table and gave them a thumbs up!

I said to Mancini, " I just finished reading and studying your book "Sounds and Scores". He said, "wonderful, have a seat." We talked for an hour about composing and arranging. What an amazing moment in my life. I still have his autograph on a cocktail napkin.

Oh by the way, the guys in the band never paid up!