PHILIP NORMAN AUSTIN, the Music Man, died the last week of July 2009, in Tucson.

He was born the last week of December 1929, and was raised in upstate New York where he began his musical career at age four, playing trumpet and violin. His father, W. Philip Austin, was a music teacher in the New York public schools. His mother Vera was also a teacher. He studied at Eastman School of Music on violin, after winning scholarships to study there from third grade through high school. He also attended college at Fredonia State.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1948. As a musician, he was stationed in Hawaii and later became a member of the Naval Academy Band from 1951-1965. He played French horn in Concert Band and violin in the Orchestra. He served as Drum Major of the marching band 1960-65. On board the U.S.S. Yorktown (Aircraft Carrier), out of San Diego, Phil was the bandleader, entering a war zone during the Vietnam conflict. He started the Navy Band for the submarine base at New London, Conn. He was Bandmaster thereafter in Seattle (Pier 91), transferred to New Orleans to start a band there and back in Seattle (Sandpoint), where he retired from the Navy as Master Chief Musician in 1975.

After retirement from the Navy, he worked for Kennelly Keys Music and Todd Shipyard in Seattle. In 1984, he moved to Florida where he continued to play jazz and dance music. In 1994, he moved to Tucson and had been very active playing trumpet and bass with a big band and other groups in Tucson and Green Valley.

Phil was a Lifetime member of AMVETS as well as Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had been a member of the Fleet Reserve Association for many years. He was also a 34-year member of the Elks and had been a three-year member of the American Legion Post 66.

Through his music, in recent years, Phil touched many lives. He consistently played “Taps” for memorials of servicemen. He enjoyed bringing smiles to nursing home residents. His greatest pleasure was filling the floor with dancers when he and various musicians played Big Band and Jazz.

He is survived by his sister Phyllis MacDonell of New York; former spouse Elaine Austin; as well as daughters Karen and Laura; and sons Douglas and Steven. His children reside in Washington State. He has eight grandchildren.

Phil donated his body for scientific and educational uses. A memorial service, as well as a celebration of life, will be held at the American Legion Hall, Post 66, on Duval Mine Road in Green Valley on Oct. 18, 2009, starting at 2 p.m. Yes, there will be music, as Phil would have wished. Please RSVP at 520-471-7445.

The family requests that remembrances be made, in lieu of flowers or cards, to either the Navy Musician Assoc. (NMA) Scholarship Fund, or the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (mhopus.org) - both will help encourage music for communities.

For more information about donations or services, please contact the family at 520-471-7445 or e-mail cr8balance@gmail.com.