William Wallace Allred (Bill), age 87, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2024 at Lake Bennett Rehabilitative Center in Ocoee, Florida with his devoted wife, Susan, at his side.

Oh, man. It was probably 1972, before Disney, and Dad took us to hear some music in a series of outdoor open sheds ("revival sheds") somewhere around Orlando. He was a great Dixie fan. One guy in the band was playing this crazy shiny instrument that got long and short. When it got short I couldn't figure out why it didn't hurt when the tube went down his mouth! Must be a learned skill...

Anyway, that was Bill, before Disney, before Rosie O'Grady's, when Florida was still Florida, and the reason for my own trombone fascination. Thanks, Bill. RIP

Rest in peace. Man could he play and sing too!

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Bill and John Allred together. Doesn’t get any better than this:

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