"Pee Wee Erwin was one of those rare people who was liked by everybody. He was a musical prodigy, unusually self-disciplined but without question an exceptionally talented boy. During his long and distinguished career as a professional trumpet player, he was in constant demand by the foremost bandleaders and conductors in radio, the movies, recordings, TV, and stage shows and was active in every phase of the music business. For the most part, music was good to him. He gave it all he had, and in return his name has to be considered among the great ones--not only as a musician, but as a fine human being."
Warren W. Vache wrote this glowing account of Falls City's own George "Pee Wee" Erwin in his 1987 biography of Erwin's life, "This Horn for Hire."
To celebrate and pay tribute to a native son, the Falter Museum hosted a dinner/dance party on Sunday evening, May 29, the day before Pee Wee's 103rd birthday. Nearly 80 fans enjoyed an evening of live jazz by another Falls City accomplished trumpet player and Falls City native, Mike Brownson. His quartet played standard oldies from the '40s to the '70s, and and due to such an overwhelming positive response following the event, Mike and his very talented friends, John Carlotto (sax, clarinet, flute), Jim Williamson (keyboards), and percussionist John Scofield, will return for the "Pee Wee Erwin Tribute #2" on Saturday evening, May 29, 2017, again at the Harkendorff Event Center, so be sure to mark your calendar now!
The museum has greeted nearly 300 visitors since the Passport started on May 1st! It's been exciting to have so many guests from all over the state make the trip to Falls City. Our three regular docents, Carol Johnson, Glenda Nelson and Jonah Santo are doing a great encouraging them to visit the downtown businesses and restaurants.
Most had never heard about John but saw our TV and newspaper ads and decided to pay us a visit, and several have commented about the cobblestone streets and how nice the downtown landscaping looks.
If you are interested in participating in the Passport Program, stop by the museum or call 402-450-3724 for more information.
Several Falter prints are for sale at Lydia's Beyond the Books at the Falls City Library and Arts Center. Contact Carol Johnson at 402-245-2129. The library also has Pee Wee Erwin CDs and Falter jazz prints for sale, so call 402-245-2913 for more information.