THE PEAK YEARS
The peak years in the music business for me were 1960-1967. I was playing many of the largest Northwest dances and conventions with my band. Near the end of 1967 we changed the name of my group from the Burke Garrett Orchestra to the Pacific NW Territory Band. I sold the band to three of the sidemen: Doug DeMeerleer, Cecil Heick and Don Glenn - all of whom had been with me for years. The last night I lead the band was on New Year’s Eve ‘67 at the McCord Officers Club in Tacoma. I was 28 years old.