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Celebrating Two Hundred Years of Sax

Troy Jones
/
National Music Museum

The man who invented the saxophone, Antoine-Jospeh "Adolphe" Sax was born 200 years ago this year in Belgium. The National Music Museum in Vermillion is marking his birth anniversary with the exhibition, “Celebrating the Saxes.”

The exhibition features a variety of instruments created by Adolphe Sax, including a variety of saxophones, saxhorns, saxotrombas and six keyed trumpets and trombones – many made by his hand or in his workshop. There are also instruments made by his father and his son who were also instrument designers. Deborah Reeves is curator of woodwind instruments at the National Music Museum. She joined Dakota Midday and discussed Adolphe Sax's life and instruments.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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