Obituary of a Musician

ttf_anonymous · Post by **ttf_anonymous** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 3:35 pm

I'm sure you've seen the music video "Love Stinks" by J. Geils Band.

You may remember a short portion of the video where early on in the video, a man is seen playing two trumpets as he hops around on a pogo stick.
I write today to tell you about this man, Wally Pikal, who __was__ still living in my neighborhood.

Watch "WCCO-TV Story on Wally Pickle from Hutchinson, 1976" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/Ay9r-Y3bTpw

Watch "Wally Pikal: The Beer Barrel Polka" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/cZPyWpCRY_A

Wallace Wally Pikal, age 90, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, husband of Alice, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield, Minnesota. A celebration of life will be on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 2:00 PM. Old time music by some of Wallys musician friends will follow the memorial service. Memorials are preferred to PO Box 3, Litchfield, MN 55355.

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 11:40 am

What ? Oh !
RELEVANCE: I got my first trombone from the Wally Pikal Music Store in Hutchinson !

ttf_robcat2075 · Post by **ttf_robcat2075** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 1:03 pm

I do recall seeing a guy play two trumpets while on a pogo stick on The Tonight Show many years ago.

There can't be two guys like that so it must have been him.

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:26 am

Funeral Home Announcement

http://www.hantge.com/obituaries/wallace-wally-pikal/

Yes, that was Wally Pikal on the Tonight Show.

I read that his appearance was in 1973 when the guest host was Joey Bishop.

But, I'm having trouble finding the clip. Thanks, Joey !

Watch "Behind The Swinging Doors" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/b6ooj5NMA1o

On YouTube, subscribe to Chris Pikal

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCWSrM7FN0ZEjGm9X87AziLg

to see more of Wally's shenanigans

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 11:28 am

Click on Red Letters ! ! !

Wally Pikal poses on Pogo

Bruce Guttman and I are having just the-devil-of-a-time attempting to hang a picture on this virtual wall.

I think I'll just leave the original url regardless of success.

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s230/sh/6844ba27-01f2-44d5-afb4-9cf94c5fc650/e22686ce6da2db83563543e02ba8fee5

ttf_anonymous · Post by **ttf_anonymous** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 12:24 pm

RIP...He was a funny man as well....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZFTNT9LB_k

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:26 pm

Yes, Wally was funny !

Watch Wally impersonate another "Famous" Musician.

https://youtu.be/iNhEDazQOb0

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:58 pm

Part of Wally's Shtick was the play-on-words that would follow from the mention of his Family Name.
Wally Pikal always pronounced his name as 'pickle'.
And it seemed that he strived to always give one dilly of a performance !

https://youtu.be/qtx9a6j3JL4

ttf_Nanook · Post by **ttf_Nanook** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:03 am

Lou,
So sorry for the loss of your friend....I have enjoyed being introduced to the man posthumously ...
I grew up in the heart of the a Pittsburgh steel town where all the weddings had Polka music, usually with one guy cooking on his accordion, and EVERYONE, dancing...There where tons of whiskey bottles behind the bar usually Imperial,and Kesslers, with the ladies drinking "whiskey sours"...Kids were running having fun, and the entire neighborhood cooked the food, and cookies. Every freezer in the whole neighborhood was filled with wedding food...It was a really big event...

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 7:36 am

Nanook, Thank You for stopping in again !

You said, "So sorry for the loss of your friend...."

I think Revered Village Elder, would better describe his position in my life.

( But he would treat anyone that he just met as the closest of friends ! )

As he aged, Wally gave up the pogo stick routine. And then the trumpets for his shows.

The "key board ( organ ? )" allowed him to keep performing even at age 89.

BUT, just like clockwork, he'd still put a horn to his lips for the playing of "Taps" at any Veteran's funeral.

( I belive that you British Commonwealth Soldiers play "The Last Post" . )

My own Father past away in February of 2014, and come the day of the his funeral, we found ourselves enduring the worst blizzard of the season.

( blizzard = storm with high winds, ice, and snow; poor visibility )

It is now, in this day and age, no challenge to dig a grave in Winter.

So there we were in the cemetery for my Father's burial. AND THERE WAS WALLY!

I am trying to return the favor of saluting His Service to our Nation ( and community ( and self ) ).

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 8:37 am

In this video, Wally is positioned far behind the Rifle Men.
As he plays Taps, he is supporting himself by leaning up against the left front fender of a car. When the camera finally shifts to the far left, you can __almost__ see him between Rifle Man #1 and #2.

https://youtu.be/p5HIno-qJlw

I remember last winter ( 2016 ) he nearly ran me down in the parking lot of Rexall Family Drug.
( Luckily for me he had very good brakes on that rolling walker ! )

He was still so energetic ! ! !

( Rolling Walker =
A Rollator.
A { Zimmer Walking | Wheely } Frame with four small tyres and hand-actuated brakes. )

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 11:26 am

In regard to the video that Nanook so thoughtfully provided,
I see the words "Published on Sep 5, 2013"
printed beneath the Subscribe option button.

Hey, you're watchin' a man of 86.5 years of age still performing !

His comedic timing always allowed for __all__ listeners to understand him.

So, he's only "Acting" slowly !

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 2:11 pm

Wally Pikal had a show on the local radio station.
His theme song is so familiar and is so apt for this occasion.
( I mean the "celebration of life" part. )

https://youtu.be/UXFVA9NEN4U

Services at

McLeod County Fairgrounds
840 Century Ave SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350

United States of America
( MN = Minnesota ! )

View the
McLeod County Fairgrounds

Use Menu Option: Satellite

Google Maps happens to target a
location just North of The Beer Hall.

A place where temporary stages are
often erected.

A place where Wally has frequently
performed.

The next noticable structure to the
South of that is the Grand Stand.

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 5:46 pm

National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)

Oral History - Music Retail

Interview with store owner Wally Pikal

Wally first speaks about the changing hours that his Store was open . . .

More Detail

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:34 pm

Wally cut three records in the 1970's

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

https://www.discogs.com/artist/3899897-Wally-Pikal

ttf_Nanook · Post by **ttf_Nanook** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 8:30 am

Lou, Please post some pics or a video of the service this Saturday. I'll pray for some good weather and a nice turn out....

Nanook

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:45 pm

Quote from: Nanook on Apr 23, 2017, 08:30AMLou, Please post some pics or a video of the service this Saturday. I'll pray for some good weather and a nice turn out....

Nanook

I sure hope to find something good to post here ! ! !

I don't know if this will resemble a Funeral as much as it may resemble a Wedding Dance !

Regretfullly, I so far am seeing very little reaction in the local communities to his passing.

The one year anniversary of the death of The Purple One, Prince Rodgers Nelson,
seems to have more importance to the local TV News stations.
( Well, Prince did live in their neighborhood. )
(( By local, I mean 100 kilometers away in Minneapolis/St.Paul . ))

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Tue Apr 25, 2017 3:59 pm

Quote from: Lou Natunze on Mar 20, 2017, 09:26AMFuneral Home Announcement

http://www.hantge.com/obituaries/wallace-wally-pikal/

Yes, that was Wally Pikal on the Tonight Show.

I read that his appearance was in 1973 when the guest host was Joey Bishop.

But, I'm having trouble finding the clip. Thanks, Joey !

Watch "Behind The Swinging Doors" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/b6ooj5NMA1o

On YouTube, subscribe to Chris Pikal

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCWSrM7FN0ZEjGm9X87AziLg

to see more of Wally's shenanigans

At long last, I found it.

A tape of Wally Pikal performing on The Tonight Show.

It is included, in this video, amongst many other memorable moments in his Music Career.

Vimeo !

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Mon May 01, 2017 3:54 pm

As Nanook has requested, here are Eight Photos from the funeral.

These were taken by World Famous Videographer [ chris pikal ].

Hey, iffa I say dat dee Kid's famous, den he's ⁕⁕ Famous ⁕⁕, Capiche ? ? ! ! !

Dropbox Folder

I'm sure there's more to come.

I've been driving myself crazy putting things into the electronic Guestbook

at the Funeral Home ( provided by Disq.us ), so, please, no further Annotations this week !

My Foray into Disq.us

ttf_Lou Natunze · Post by **ttf_Lou Natunze** » Mon May 01, 2017 3:54 pm

As Nanook has requested, here are Eight Photos from the funeral.

These were taken by World Famous Videographer [ chris pikal ].

Hey, iffa I say dat dee Kid's famous, den he's ⁕⁕ Famous ⁕⁕, Capiche ? ? ! ! !

Dropbox Folder

I'm sure there's more to come.

I've been driving myself crazy putting things into the electronic Guestbook

at the Funeral Home ( provided by Disq.us ), so, please, no further Annotations this week !

My Foray into Disq.us