Get to know your neighbor, musician Brett Baldwin
Brett Baldwin, a member of the National Cherry Festival Marching Band, plays the tenor saxophone at this year’s parade. Photo by Scott Hirko
By Scott Hirko, Ph.D, Contributing Writer
In this fast-paced world a small town like Elk Rapids provides a relaxing opportunity to get to know your neighbors. Towns with few stoplights and friendly personalities bring out the best in most of us. I recently had an opportunity to learn more about one of our neighbors, Brett Baldwin.
During the day, Brett is a title examiner at Riverside Title. Peeling back the onion, you will find the creativity of Brett through his contribution to the community for the last 40 years. Walking into Brett’s office, I noticed his tenor saxophone, which led to our discussion of how music has impacted his life. He would be the first to say he is no John Coltrane, but he sells himself a bit short. As stated by Larry Teal in his introduction to his 1963 book The Art of Saxophone Playing: “It is to the development of this craftsmanship, or skill and mastery of this instrument, that the true student must dedicate himself.” Since Brett strapped on that tenor sax at age 12, he has worked to get better and better – a dedication of enjoyment and self-fulfillment.
At the National Cherry Festival last Saturday, I saw Brett playing his sax in the festival band. He shook my hand while marching and continued on his way. Earlier, Brett told me “I didn’t get better until I was older. I’m still not good, but I pass to be in a marching band. The National Cherry Festival Marching Band is open to anyone who has an interest in marching.” And there he was enjoying himself as he always has since he picked up that tenor sax in seventh grade.
Part of the band’s playlist for the festival was, as expected, a John Phillip Souza march and the official National Cherry Festival march. Notably, I heard the band play the famous Northwestern University fight song. They also played mainstream music for the crowd such as “Happy” from the movie Despicable Me – you know the upbeat 2014 song by Pharrel Williams: “Because I’m Happy… Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.” Now that is a good theme song to Brett’s life.
When reflecting on the most fun moment he had in his 35-plus years of marching, he laughs and points to 2024. “Last year we played Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ and the whole parade crowd chimed in. We had no idea. Unexpected and very fun!” History includes recent events and it never ends, for all of us.
While sitting in his office, Brett discussed what inspired him to pick up the sax as a kid growing up at Chippewa Hills middle and high school in Remus. He started on the clarinet, but “my mouth was too big, so the director put me on the saxophone.” His first experience? “The first time I put it on, I nearly fell over.”
His schooling included stops at Central Michigan, Alma, Northwestern Michigan College, and eventually at Ferris State where he earned his degree in Business Administration. But it was at Northwestern Michigan where he joined their community band in 1983. By 1985, Brett married that beautiful woman sitting next to him in the band, Marge. Each year, Brett, Marge and their extended family camp up north as a Labor Day tradition.
A favorite memory for Brett is when he and Marge travelled to Norway in 1997. Why Norway? The pair previously hosted a Norwegian exchange student who invited them for a visit. “The Rotary asked us if we would take in an exchange student whose previous host didn’t work out, and we said yes. The exchange student ended up staying with us for six months.” Reflecting on his Norway visit, it occurred to Brett that “it was warmer there than here in September.”
By 2000, the couple moved into Marge’s father’s house in Elk Rapids to care of him. Since his passing, they have remained in the same house. “I married into a family in a small town, and you get to know everyone around,” said Brett. Enjoying others’ company, family, and friends makes up much of his identity. Elk Rapids is his home.
Brett personifies what Jared Cummings at Florida State wrote about the sax in 2024: “Understanding that our sense of taste is a portrayal of our background and world view, we must accept the artistic tastes of others.” In other words, Brett enjoys playing the saxophone for others. He likes it A LOT. From time to time, you can also see Brett in another role, as a member of the Elk Rapids players, recently acting in the comedy Love... or Best Offer. Thank you for your contributions to our community, Brett Baldwin!
In this fast-paced world a small town like Elk Rapids provides a relaxing opportunity to get to know your neighbors. Towns with few stoplights and friendly personalities bring out the best in most of us. I recently had an opportunity to learn more about one of our neighbors, Brett Baldwin.
During the day, Brett is a title examiner at Riverside Title. Peeling back the onion, you will find the creativity of Brett through his contribution to the community for the last 40 years. Walking into Brett’s office, I noticed his tenor saxophone, which led to our discussion of how music has impacted his life. He would be the first to say he is no John Coltrane, but he sells himself a bit short. As stated by Larry Teal in his introduction to his 1963 book The Art of Saxophone Playing: “It is to the development of this craftsmanship, or skill and mastery of this instrument, that the true student must dedicate himself.” Since Brett strapped on that tenor sax at age 12, he has worked to get better and better – a dedication of enjoyment and self-fulfillment.
At the National Cherry Festival last Saturday, I saw Brett playing his sax in the festival band. He shook my hand while marching and continued on his way. Earlier, Brett told me “I didn’t get better until I was older. I’m still not good, but I pass to be in a marching band. The National Cherry Festival Marching Band is open to anyone who has an interest in marching.” And there he was enjoying himself as he always has since he picked up that tenor sax in seventh grade.
Part of the band’s playlist for the festival was, as expected, a John Phillip Souza march and the official National Cherry Festival march. Notably, I heard the band play the famous Northwestern University fight song. They also played mainstream music for the crowd such as “Happy” from the movie Despicable Me – you know the upbeat 2014 song by Pharrel Williams: “Because I’m Happy… Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.” Now that is a good theme song to Brett’s life.
When reflecting on the most fun moment he had in his 35-plus years of marching, he laughs and points to 2024. “Last year we played Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ and the whole parade crowd chimed in. We had no idea. Unexpected and very fun!” History includes recent events and it never ends, for all of us.
While sitting in his office, Brett discussed what inspired him to pick up the sax as a kid growing up at Chippewa Hills middle and high school in Remus. He started on the clarinet, but “my mouth was too big, so the director put me on the saxophone.” His first experience? “The first time I put it on, I nearly fell over.”
His schooling included stops at Central Michigan, Alma, Northwestern Michigan College, and eventually at Ferris State where he earned his degree in Business Administration. But it was at Northwestern Michigan where he joined their community band in 1983. By 1985, Brett married that beautiful woman sitting next to him in the band, Marge. Each year, Brett, Marge and their extended family camp up north as a Labor Day tradition.
A favorite memory for Brett is when he and Marge travelled to Norway in 1997. Why Norway? The pair previously hosted a Norwegian exchange student who invited them for a visit. “The Rotary asked us if we would take in an exchange student whose previous host didn’t work out, and we said yes. The exchange student ended up staying with us for six months.” Reflecting on his Norway visit, it occurred to Brett that “it was warmer there than here in September.”
By 2000, the couple moved into Marge’s father’s house in Elk Rapids to care of him. Since his passing, they have remained in the same house. “I married into a family in a small town, and you get to know everyone around,” said Brett. Enjoying others’ company, family, and friends makes up much of his identity. Elk Rapids is his home.
Brett personifies what Jared Cummings at Florida State wrote about the sax in 2024: “Understanding that our sense of taste is a portrayal of our background and world view, we must accept the artistic tastes of others.” In other words, Brett enjoys playing the saxophone for others. He likes it A LOT. From time to time, you can also see Brett in another role, as a member of the Elk Rapids players, recently acting in the comedy Love... or Best Offer. Thank you for your contributions to our community, Brett Baldwin!
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