Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, July 1959: Vernon Brotman (standing, far right behind piano), leads the 14-member Filipino Rocker Club band at the Kadena Air Base Rocker Club. The bandmembers are all veteran musicians. Brotman plays five instruments and also sings. Originally from Los Angeles, he started studying music at the age of 13 and now plays the tenor as well as the soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet. Pictured here are the other instrumental soloist in the band (left to right): trumpet player Silvester Roxas, tuba player Jaime Alarcom, guitarist-violinist “Tiny” Umali, trombonist Rommy Reyes, and piano player Vic Ares.

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