Member N.A.P.B.I.R.T.
National Association
of Professional
Band Instrument
Repair Technicians
|
 Gerald McGuire is a native of Paris, Tennessee, where
he began his musical training in the band program during the 5th grade. In high
school he was first chair clarinet in the E.W. Grove High School band, played
1st tenor in the jazz band, sang in the choir, and was a member of the All-West
Tennessee Band during his senior year.
He then attended Murray State University in nearby
Murray, KY where he was a member of the marching and concert bands, the wind
ensemble, clarinet choir, college choir, served as musical director for the 1970
productions of Campus
Lights (an annual musical program that raises scholarship funds for music
majors), was director of the Phi Mu Alpha 'Men of Note' jazz band, served as an
officer of the Gamma Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and graduated with
a Bachelor of Music Education.
Gerald taught band and chorus in the public school
systems of Weakley Co., Tennessee and Fulton, Kentucky, before taking an
interest in instrument repair while working in a retail music store while
attending graduate school. He was able to re-connect with a former college
roommate, Clarence Riley, who had attended Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City after
graduating from Murray State. Clarence had completed a 48 week course in
instrument repair at W.I.T. and had opened a store in his hometown of Mayfield,
KY. Gerald apprenticed with Clarence for a year, learning all he could about the
repair of both brass and woodwind instruments before opening his own repair shop
in Paris. In 1978, Gerald had the opportunity to move to Jackson, TN to become
the repair technician for Wallick Music Co. Although he began in the repair
shop, Gerald eventually became the school road rep for Wallick's, and then the
general manager. In all, Gerald worked for Houston & Hope Sipes for 28
years, until the store closed on July 7, 2006. He then made the decision to once
again open
his own independent repair shop, offering service including repads and overhauls
on flutes and clarinets, repads on saxophones, and play condition repairs on all
woodwind and brass instruments... from piccolos to sousaphones.
Gerald played bass clarinet for 24 seasons with The
Jackson Symphony Orchestra, has played in the pit orchestra for numerous stage
productions for the Jackson Theater Guild, University School of Jackson, and in
Union City, TN, and was the musical director for the Jackson Theater Guild's
production of Evita.
Gerald served as Director of Church Music for the
Bemis United Methodist Church for 21 years, and has been the Choir Director of
Malesus United Methodist Church since 2002. He is a member of the Fellowship of
United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.
Gerald is a charter member of the Jackson Area
Community Bands, playing clarinet in the concert band, and was a co-founder of
the jazz band. He served as director of the jazz band for 12 years (1996 -
2008).
Gerald has had the opportunity to perform in a back-up
capacity with many well-known performers, including Charlie Rich, Minnie Pearl, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Johnny Rivers,
Carl Perkins, Chris Brubeck,
The Four Tops, B.J. Thomas, Gladys Knight, Three Dog
Night, Rich Little, Denise LaSalle, Alex Harvey, Stella Parton, actress
Jennifer O'Neill, Jumpin' Gene
Simmons, Miss America 1987: Kellye Cash, and Ray Charles. He played lead tenor sax in The Todd Hill Orchestra, a 16-piece big band performing
in West Tennessee and Western Kentucky for several years.
 Why 'The Saxdoctor'?
One of Gerald's good friends and customers, Ralph Thomas, plays
professionally under the name Dr. Sax. As Gerald began doing repairs on Ralph's
Selmer Paris alto, tenor, and soprano saxes, Ralph began referring to him as the
Sax Doctor. At one time Ralph had a personalized license plate for his car that
read "DR SAX" and Gerald had "SAX DR". Gerald's plate still
hangs proudly in his shop.
Gerald has been married to Jennifer since graduating
from college, and they have two grown daughters: Ann Cavin, who teaches elementary
music at Lakewood Elementary School and is assistant band director in
charge of the colorguard at Henry Co. HS; and Melody Pruett, who works for FSB
Insurance in Jackson.
|
