The Golden Twins Playing in the 1990's on the 4th
of July
photo from the Golden family

45-Year Tradition on Hold for Concert Preceding July 4th Fireworks  

For the first time since about 1960 the concert preceding the July 4th fireworks in the Oak Park River Forest High School football stadium will be without the Golden Twins of Oak Park.  Bruce Golden and Les Golden have either performed in or led concert bands and music groups since they were students at Oak Park High, about 45 years ago. 

"It's sort of a strange feeling," said Les.  "I'll joyfully celebrate our country's birthday, but it'll be as an audience member and not on the bandstand," said Les.  "We've happily participated in those concerts ever since they started, in various forms," said Bruce. 

In the 1960's, the Golden Twins played trumpet in the pre-fireworks concert band led by the late John Robertson, a retired Navy bandsman.  Robertson also led a concert series on Friday nights during the summer at Scoville Park which featured the Golden Twins as trumpet players and soloists. 

After four or five years, the village asked Bruce to lead the concert band for July 4th, and after seven more years the village asked Bruce to have his dance band provide the entertainment.  The Golden Twins also provided the music for the annual Oak Park Recreation Department circuses, held in Stevenson Playground, from their freshmen year in high school until the end of the circuses following the death of recreation department head Lily Ruth Hanson in the late 1970's. 

"We've watched several generations of kids grow up in Oak Park from our various bandstands," said Les.   At July 4th, the Goldens would ask children from the audience to come to the bandstand and perform with the band.  Most recently, Les had up to 30 kids on stage portraying the tigers and the animal trainer in a rendition of "Hold That Tiger." They almost made sure that all the tunes they've performed on July 4th were by American composers. 

While in 8th grade at Horace Mann School, Bruce and Les played in the band providing the entertainment at the Pan-American games women's basketball competition at the high school.  They had been soloists with the all-village band as 8th graders.  In high school, Bruce led a popular dance band at Oak Park High, The Deuces.  Bruce and Les played trumpet in that band, as well as playing and being soloists in the high school concert band and orchestra, in which Bruce was the principal trumpet.  Bruce's group has performed at many village events, including formal dinner dances on the old Oak Park mall.  He was asked to provide the music at the ceremonies marking the dedication of the Oak Park Village Hall in 1965. 

Their various musical exploits have placed one or both of the Golden Twins on the cover of the Oak Leaves no less than three times.   

In college, Les was a soloist with the Cornell concert band, Bruce was lead trumpet in the MIT jazz band, and in graduate school Les was a founder of the University of California Jazz Ensembles.  They've both played in and led professional dance groups since high school.  During the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, Bruce's band, the Sounds of Now, later simply Bruce Golden and His Orchestra, had between 100 and 150 engagements each year, placing it among the most successful groups in the Midwest.    

This year, the GALA organization asked the Oak Park and River Forest Symphony to perform the 1812 Overture before the fireworks.  Whether that marks the beginning of a new tradition, or whether the future will again be Golden concerts remains to be seen. 

"We always have had two goals at July 4th," said Les.  "We wanted to provide a festive atmosphere, consistent with the birthday party of the greatest country on earth.  And we wanted to provide entertainment for tots to senior citizens.  We'd play jazz, old standards, Disney music, rock and roll.  You name it."  "We cater a lot to the kids," said Bruce.  "Get the kids involved in singing songs, and play tunes from the Disney movies that they all recognize. The music varies from year to year, but we try to keep it so that everybody's happy."  Frequently, teenagers, infants, and young adults would simply feel the urge and start to dance in the aisles of the stadium.   

"Because it was so much fun, and because the musicians were able to play their favorite tunes, we were able to bring to Oak Park some of the greatest players in the area.  People like Richie Corpolongo, Dave Gordon, Greg Aguirre, and Marshall Venti are well-known in the jazz community and are recording artists in their own right.  That meant we've had some very, very fine music coming from that stage," said Les. 

"Whoever provides the entertainment, the important thing to remember is that this is our nation's birthday, 227 and counting," said Les.  "We should be grateful for having the chance to celebrate our freedom and liberty 

Editors Comment by Ed Vincent
"It would be nice if Les and his brother were allowed to play
in the new selection and with the new (this year..) ensemble.
It is a shame to stop a musical legacy when the two men could
join in and play as they have for many, many years..."