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Bernie May's E-Flat Alto Saxophone
Bernie May's E-Flat Alto Saxophone
Bernie May's E-Flat Alto Saxophone

Bernie May's E-Flat Alto Saxophone

Manufacturer / Maker
Used by (1911 - 2000)
Date1926
Mediumgold plated brass
Dimensions30 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (77.5 x 21.6 x 12.1 cm)
ClassificationsMusical Instruments
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Bernie May
Terms
    Object numberPC1994.70.1.A
    DescriptionBorn Byrnes Otto May on Oct. 17, 1911 in Bradley, Texas would relocated to Albuquerque as a child. His love of music and his own music business grew from playing saxophone and watching his parents repair instruments in the shop they opened in 1913. He would graduate from Albuquerque High School in 1928 and go on to pay his way through the University of New Mexico by playing saxophone in his own big band. May's band, the Collegians, played Big Band at the University of New Mexico. On weekends he played the KiMo and Sunshine Theaters accompanied by singers such as Vivian Vance (of I Love Lucy fame) and Ethel Merman. This principal part of body for an E-Flat Alto Saxophone, is gold plated and May would eventually sell his rare golden horn to devote himself fully to his music business. Thirty-one years later, the horn appeared in another Albuquerque music store and May would buy it again. He was known for bringing music programs to highschools all over New Mexico specifically in more rural areas such as Roswell and Raton.



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