You can access it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv8a5FNygzg
The March 29, 2026, installment of Circus History Live!, the monthly podcast of the Circus Historical Society, featured two circus musicians who shared stories of what life was like playing in the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus band. Those windjammers are trumpet playing Charlie Bertini (WJU #188) and trombone musician J. P. Cunningham. Charlie played trumpet in the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus band under Charles Schlarbaum (WJU #61) and then replaced Chuck as the band’s leader. J.P. was with CBCB for 25 seasons.
Charlie Bertini joined the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus band at age 19 and toured for six years as first-trumpeter and later as musical director. Later, in demand as a first-call trumpeter, he backed up artists such as Burt Bacharach, Liza Minnelli, Henry Mancini and many more. He recorded seven solo albums and was executive director of the annual AppleJazz Festival in upstate New York which ran for thirty years. As a teacher and clinician, he led numerous workshops and lectures at several universities and high schools.
After a stint in the US Navy, J.P. Cunningham attended Berklee College of Music in Boston for a year. He then joined the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus band where he played trombone for twenty-five years. In 1996, when the show downsized the band, Cunningham switched to advertising the circus. He remained in that role until the show finally closed in 2015.
This interview is wonderful circus history, with reminiscences of Merle Evans, Chuck Schlarbaum and a host of veteran Windjammers. Chris Berry (WJU #3959) hosted the interview.
The interview runs 1:08:33 but is well worth the time to view it. Quite educational, informative, interesting, and at times humorous!
You can access it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv8a5FNygzg
