Whitman
Alfred Anthony, Big Band Era Saxophone Great, Dead at Age 89.
Alfred “Al” Anthony, born April 21, 1917 in East Bridgewater, MA died of heart failure Friday night. The son of Carl and Mary (Balboni) Anthony, he is survived by his wife of 65 years, Norine (Renee) Weaver Anthony of Whitman.
Al graduated high school in 1935 from East Bridgewater where he played saxophone, flute and clarinet in the school band. For the next few years he worked with local orchestras honing his skills. In 1940, Al experienced two exciting events when he married, Renee Weaver, and he gained national recognition when he was invited to join the popular Tommy Reynolds Band. He soon won the lead alto saxophone chair on the renowned Al Donahue Orchestra. In 1945, Al joined the world famous Stan Kenton Band, and was the featured saxophonist in many Warner Brothers movies and short films. Throughout his long and colorful career during the Big Bands Era, he was a member of the Frankie Carle Band, The Incomparable Hildergard, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, playing on many top selling record albums of the period. He also spent much of his time touring the country, entertaining thousands in the Big Band tradition of the popular “One Nighters”. He and Renee took their two children along as they often traveled the road together until the kids became school age. Eventually, the family returned to Whitman, where Al played lead alto sax for Boston’s own Marchard and Ruby Newman Orchestras, and was frequently featured at the Music Circus and Blinstrubs Night Club. In the 1960s, along with his playing in the best of the New England bands, he taught instrumental music in the Weymouth school system. In the 1970s he taught music for the Department of Youth Services. He retired from DYS in the early 1980s, and from performing in the music business in 1989.
He also leaves behind his daughter, Mrs. Sandra (Anthony) Fermo and her husband Capt. Louis Fermo Ret.USN of Springfield, VA, and Mr. Tyrone (Terry) Anthony and his wife Karen of East Bridgewater, as well as four step-grandchildren, a step-great granddaughter, a sister-in-law, Louise (Billie) McGrath, and a niece and nephew.
Friends are welcome to pay their final respects to Alfred Anthony at Blanchard Funeral Home, 666 Plymouth Street, Whitman, Wednesday May 3, 2006 from
4 PM – 7 PM. Burial will be at the convenience of the immediate family.
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