Remembering Vern Kennedy - Argonotes trumpeter, singer, composer, all-around good guy

I got the sad news yesterday that Vern Kennedy, trumpeter, composer, singer, backbone of the Argonotes trumpet section, and all around wonderful guy, passed away this week. This hurts. I have been wanting to organize an Argonotes reunion ever since the band folded (nine years ago today, as it turns out) and I wanted to play with Vern one more time. Vern was in Argonotes for 20 years and was just the most wonderful, dependable guy. Every bandleader knows this type - one of a handful of people in your band who just makes everything better, and when you know he’s coming to the gig, you know it’ll be OK. Up for anything. And he was up for anything. One year, the Argos called me in a panic, a couple of days before a playoff game that happened to be on November 11, Remembrance Day. They had neglected to book a trumpet player for the ceremonial playing of The Last Post before the game. Did I know anybody? Well, one phone call later, Vern was happy to do it. I think he was happy to do…