THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9406300221
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
IT'S THE HOTTEST of June days. The coolness of Walt Gray's Musicana store on the beach road is a welcome mat out of the thick, hot air.
The Musicana store is housed in the original Gray's Department Store building at milepost 10.5. For many decades, Gray's was THE store on the Outer Banks. The original shop, about half the size of the Musicana store, opened for business in l950. Gray and his wife, Estelle, and the family of four boys and a girl, operated the store during the much shorter tourist season of 40 years ago. During the winter, the family lived in Elizabeth City.
``It was better for the boys,'' says Gray. ``They all played sports.''
Gray spent the winter months in Elizabeth City working as a substitute teacher. When the children were grown, the family moved to Nags Head year-round, living in an apartment above the store. Julie, Ronnie and Larry Gray worked in the store with Dad.
Five years ago, the Gray children took over the business. They now operate four Gray's Department Stores on the Outer Banks. It was the best arrangement for Walter and Estelle Gray. They now were free to pursue their great passion: Big Band Music.
Walter, Estelle and I grab three chairs and sit down to talk about ``the greatest music there ever was.'' Walter offers me a glass of tea. What could be finer? As Estelle leaves the store for the upstairs apartment, it gives me a chance to walk around. On the walls are original posters of the big band hall of famers. Most are autographed. ``To Walt, Thanks, Mercer Ellington.'' (Ellington leads the band of his late father, Duke.) There are coffee cups, T-shirts and pens with slogans and phrases celebrating the swing era. Each picture stirs memories for Walter Gray.
``When you hear the music of Sammy Kaye and Glenn Miller, you can't help but feel good,'' Gray grins as his wife returns with the tea. ``It was a happy time back then.''
I feel something sitting here with the Grays. When he talks, she listens. When she talks, he listens. Glances and gestures speak in place of words. They remember things the same way. This is the way it's supposed to be in love and marriage.
Walter and Estelle fell in love during the swing era. That period, l935-1944, lifted America out of its post-Depression doldrums. The music was sweet and alive. In l939, Walter heard The Glenn Miller Orchestra for the first time. The concert was in Washington, D.C., at the Capitol Theater.
``The music was magical,'' remembers Gray. ``There were smiles everywhere. And there was a sense of platonic love everywhere.''
Miller's music was magic. He was the first real recording star. Miller stamped every song as his own. His formula was simple: Don't use one. Miller's trademark sound was defined by his use of a clarinet as the lead instrument, playing the part of the fifth saxophone. Another Miller trademark was having all the instruments die out and then return louder and truer than before. He sold millions of records. His recordings of ``Moonlight Serenade,'' ``In The Mood'' and ``A String of Pearls'' mesmerized the entire generation.
Now, almost 50 years after the death of Glenn Miller, the music lives on. The Glenn Miller Orchestra, under the direction of Larry O'Brien who uses the original charts, travels around the country entertaining those who remember the music - and educating those who don't.
The Big Band Preservation Society, which is Walter and Estelle Gray, brings the 17-piece orchestra to Nags Head on Wednesday and Thursday.
Look for Walter and Estelle Gray, those gray-haired teenagers, dancing the night away.
``When I hear `Moonlight Serenade,' '' says Gray, ``it's like somebody shot something in my veins.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Big Band Preservation Society president Walter Gray, facing front,
swings his partner during an event hosted earlier this year.
WHERE & WHEN
Who: The Glenn Miller Orchestra
When: July 6-7
Where: Comfort Inn, Nags Head; milepost 17 on the N.C. Route 12
beach road
Also coming this summer: The Satin Souls, The Russ Morgan
Orchestra and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Tickets: Gray's Department Stores on the Outer Banks
For more information: Call The Big Band Preservation Society,
(9l9) 441-4644
by CNB