TCHS Alumni News - So, Who is this Ben Godfrey?

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PROBLEM SOLVED

So, Who is this Ben Godfrey?

By Rees Clark '60

Mar 10, 2002 -- UPDATE 4/8: PROBLEM SOLVED! We asked the burning question "how did TCHS Fight Song" get into a Bruce Willis movie?" After only a few days, an answer via The Forums from the best possible authoritative source. READ ON:

"Ben Godfrey is listed in the credits of "Unbreakable" because he wrote the TCHS fight song and alma mater...those two songs were recorded several years ago by the TCHS band, and subsequently my mother gave permission for a sound track company to allow movies to use the songs as background music...even though he is not with us any longer, he would be please that his music is still being heard...Donna (Godfrey) Cannon '72"

(Thanks, Donna! For those of you too young to remember, TC had a fabulous music community in the 1950s, and music training reached almost every student. Ben Godfrey almost single-handedly created the bands and orchestras at TCHS out of whole cloth. The TC Dance Band played far beyond the gym. Other names to research: Philip Memoli; Roger Lockie, Ward Kimball, Mollie B, Dodie Stevens, Paul Showalter, Bill Halverson, and your personal favorites...? --Ed.)

********** ORIGINAL QUESTION *************

I flipped on the TV to wake myself up this AM. One channel had a movie called "Unbreakable" with Bruce Willis. I just let it run out the last few minutes waiting for the end of the hour, and, of course, the credits followed. I can't imagine why my eye fell on this as I lay there trying to come out of morning reverie, but there in the music credits was: "'Temple City High School Fight Song' by Ben Godfrey."

YOUR assignment is to find out why and how this came about.

Of course, we know that Ben Godfrey was the first director of music at TCHS in 1956, later joined by Roger Lockie. In the midst of the startup, he banged out an "old musical tradition" for the school to give us some instant community culture. (No doubt you whistle the TCHS Fight Song throughout your day.)

The question is: How did it get into the movie?

(SHORT research notes from alumni will be appended to this article as they arrive. Anyone care to scan a photo of Ben and send it? [JPEG, 72ppi, 3in.wide]--Ed.)

Janell Marr Gregson ('60) reports: Hello again. We saw that Unbreakable was on again tonight as a "free" movie on the Starz channel. After watching 1 hour and 35 minutes of a bad movie, looking for a clue, it flashed on "for ordering information...." So we never did see the end. Don't know how much you saw but some of it revolved around football at Temple University. I'm thinking "Go you Temple...." was used although I didn't hear it in the part of the movie we saw. And of course that still doesn't explain how and why somebody knew about the song and used it. I am determined to find out, but not if it means watching that movie again!

"Andy Rooney" (??) asks: "'Djever notice that 'Go you Temple..." sounds a lot like 'On Wisconsin' especially between the beginning and the end?"

Reader Comments

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John Jenkins	Mar 10, 2002	Gavilan Hills, Ca	Manager
Now I suppose all of us who were in the band under Mr Godfrey will have to go buy or rent the movie just to see this phenomenon. This definitely has my curiosity up. How about it Bibler?


Bev Ashley (Johnson)	Mar 28, 2002	Pasadena, CA	retired
Are you guys sure it was Ben Godfrey? My class-of-58 mind conjures up Bernard instead of Ben.


Harmon	Apr 03, 2002	San Francisco	Alto sax
Honest, mr Godfrey, it wasn't me or Russ or Jon that put the valve oil in your soup and got you sick.


Donna (Godfrey) Cannon	Apr 08, 2002	Helendale, CA	Teacher
Yes, folks that was the TCHS fight song written by my father, Ben Godfrey...it was used in "Unbreakable" during the stadium scene where Bruce Willis is looking for someone...you can hear it in the background... it also appears in a Disney movie about twin girl basketball players...the fight song and alma mater were recorded by the TCHS band several years ago and is available for use on sound tracks...unfortunately my father passed away several years ago but he would be amused by all this attention to his music...most of you know his only as the band director at TCHS, but he was also a composer and arranger of many pieces...I would love to hear from any alumni, especially those from my class '72...Donna (Godfrey) Cannon


Roger Osborne	Apr 20, 2002	Marquez, Texas	Self employed
I was never in the band or orchestra, but I remember Ben Godfrey as well as any teacher. He was never too busy for a student, never hesitant, when he thought the principal was wrong, to tell the principal off. You couldn't know him long without becoming aware of his musical tallents or his devotion to his family. He used to tell people he had to go to court to have the frey added to the end of his name. I was surprised at how many people asked "really?" ...when he would say this. I thought he had a good sence of humor.


Jack Bello-Gallardo	May 10, 2002	Las Vegas, NV	Retired
To Donna and everyone else. I had Ben Godfrey for the 4 years I attended T.C. My Junior and Seinor years I had Mr Godfrey for 3 and 4 classes per day. I was in Band, Marching Band, Dance Band and any other band class I could take. Mr Godfrey was very, very instrumental, not only on my music progression (Trumpet player) but more so in my future. It was Ben Godfrey who convenced me to join the Air Force. I asked for his opinion and as luck would have it 6 or 7 months later I was off to Texas for Basic Training. Who would have known that 23 years later I would be retired. I have seen Ben just a few times since high school, but the man had a great impact on my life. I'm sure myself, Bob Morrow, Tom Gastineau and Walaski had something to do with Ben loosing his hair. Those were some great times. All the parades, football shows and National City. I wouldn't change it for anything. To Ben Godfrey - Here - Here.


Jin Han	Sep 26, 2002	Korea	Software
I remember Mr. Godfrey as the orchestra director in my elementary school days, in '76. By the time I went to Oak Ave. Jr. High and Temple City High School in late 70's and early 80's, Mr. Hoolihan was the orchestra director, and Mr. Lockie was the band director. I am sorry to hear Mr. Godfrey maybe no longer with us, but he is remembered as a warm and talented orchestra conductor. I still have scores to some of the reportoire from his days in elementary school... I appreciate his patience and his love for music all the more, as I tried teach violin to the monsterous kiddies...


Bob Morton	Mar 26, 2003	Calgary, Alberta	Chemical Engineer
Very sorry to hear Mr Godfrey has passed. The School system music program in the 50's/60's was great and some of the musicians from that program went on to successful careers in the music business. Ben was a great person and, given the rowdy bunch in those days, a very patient music instructor. I have great memories of the dance band of the 60's (Jerry Coffin, Bill Halverson, Sal Conte, Bob O'Donnell, Jim Han and others). We did pretty good at the Battle of the Bands in those days. I also recall some pretty wild proms we played..El Monte HS in particular. We went out for a break and when we cam back among other things, our hornmutes had been flatttened by some of the homeboys. The prom ended early due to the ensuing riot. I guess they didnt appreciate the music.


Bob Morton	Mar 28, 2003	Calgary, Alberta	Chemical Engineer
Trivia - Re: "Mollie B"; Dodie Stevens and Bill Halverson o Molly Bee is Molly Beachboard. Country singer, teenager, regular on early B&W TV with Tenessee Earnie Ford. Show was Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree in the early 50's. It was broadcast live from the El Monte Legion Stadium. Unfortunately, I'm old enough to remember the show. I'm not sure of her connection with Temple City Schools unless it was Oak Ave or some of the northern TC elementary schools. Lower TC had not been incorporated in to the TC system and children in that area were going to schools in the Rosemead District. o Dodie Stevens is Geri Pasquale, sung "Pink Shoe Laces", big hit in 1959. Temple City gal, cute. She ditched us after the hit and to my knowledge didnt return to Oak Ave or TCHS. (I could be wrong.) o Bill Halverson- Lived next door to us on Kauffman in 1960's, drove an ugly white PLymouth. Played trombone in TCHS Dance Band. Last time I saw him was upstairs at the Wiskey A Go GO in the 60's. I believe he is a recording engineer and had done recording/production for Crosby Stills, Nash and other big groups in late 60's early 70's. so..How'd I do, Rees?.


Gene Eggers / Class of 1967	Sep 05, 2003	Covina	Retired / USAF
FYI: Dodie Stevens (Real Name: Geraldine (ìGeriî) Anne Pasquale // DOB: 17 February 1946, Chicago, Illinois) From a reliable source I was told that she was a member of TCHS (Possibly Class of 1963 ???). Stevens moved with her family to Temple City in California when she was three years old. As a child, in the 50s, she performed at USO shows and Army and Navy hospitals and, at the age of 10, was "discovered", while singing on a local television show. Signed to Crystallette Records, it was 18 months before the company recorded her. Her first release (at age 12), Mickie Grant's "Pink Shoelaces", went to number 3 in the US charts in 1959. It was one of the first records to be produced by the prolific H.B. Barnum. Subsequent singles such as "Yes-sir-ee" and "No" failed to repeat that initial success, as did the three albums, released on the Dot label. She appeared in several movies, including Hound Dog (with Fabian), Convicts Four and Alakazam The Great (an animated feature in which Stevens provided the voice of a monkey). She retired at 16 to get married, and had a child at 19, but was divorced in 1968. She returned to singing, and joined Sergio Mendes for a while, toured with rock 'n' roll revival shows, and became an in-demand session singer, working with Mac Davis and others. Her sister Elaine, also attended TCHS. Filmography: 1962 Convicts Four - Character played: Resko's Sister 1961 Alakazam the Great! - Character played: De De 1959 Hound-Dog Man - Character played: Nita Stringer ===========================================================


Rees	Sep 17, 2003	Puget Sound	Editor
I hadn't looked at this thread for a while. Bob Morton takes the cake! Just an add-on or two. The Beachboards' connection to TC was indeed educational. I'm not sure whether Molly attended Longden (then South Santa Anita School Dist.'s only school), but her brother Bob was well known in town; he was a few years older than I (c/1960). In 1959-60 "Dodie Stevens" performed several times with the great TC Dance Band in Talent Exchanges with other schools, to the awe of their students, getting great mileage for TCHS; today, of course, the "handlers" of such a pop star would never allow such a thing; her presence -- probably properly -- diverted attention from other singers on the program, including a quartet that included myself, two classmates Rick Gaylord and Dave Wood, and Little Billy Shaw. Good times those.


Gary Skelley	Feb 29, 2004	Chico, Ca	Retail
Hey Rees, If I recall correctly Dotti Stevens was one or two years behind me and I was in the "GREAT" class of 1962 Which won the schools first two football championships and stareed a dynasty for Coach Hichcock! How could you old guys have sung with Dottyi? She would have been two young! Hey buddy strieghten me out! Oh by the way It was nice to see all the people I saw at the Reunion in the Queen Mary two years ago what a hoot! Hope to see everyone again soon! Gary My brother Skelley As knowen by my older sisters frinds!


Bill Halverson	Apr 04, 2004	Portland,TN
Bob; the Plymouth was blue. I wrecked it in Vegas in '63.Mr. Godfrey was great. He put up with a lot of stuff from us in '59 and '60. I've had 40+ years of fun in the music business. Maybe we should all start trading stories. It could jog my fuzzy memory. Bill


Bob Morton	May 19, 2004	Bellingham,WA	Chemical Engineer
Bill: Yeah, it was blue..I'm guessing now that my memory is probably fuzzier than yours. Recall the Sal Conte 'rat pack'...? I joined the Dance Band in '61? after you guys left the scene. You're right, Godfrey seemed to draw more than his share of the rowdies, Jerry Coffin and Schoenbaum kept the torture going at least past '64. Conte was pretty good on trumpet, and the chair was filled by Bob O'Donnell. Ran into O'Donnell a few weeks ago. He's still in the bidness, still has his chops, and doing well. Lots of talent came out of TC. Bob


Rees	Jun 24, 2004	Puget Sound	Editor
Gary S: She was young, but not that young. Geri/Dodie was a freshman when I was a senior. "Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces" was #3 at some point in 1959, while she was still at (Oak Ave?). The bloom was still fresh by the following Spring, when those interscholastic talent shows occurred. I note a comment above by Bill Halverson, who I think played trombone in the same band/shows.


lynn lonzo	Jul 22, 2004	laguna niguel, CA	interior designer
It is great to hear about the antics of the Dance Band of the 60's at TCHS. I am Western HS 62' maiden name: Merriam. I dated Jerry Coffin briefly c. 63/64. I would like to locate him. Can anyone help. I was reminded of him when Ray Charles passed away.


Observer	Jul 24, 2004
Lynn: There's a Janice Coffin listed in class/64. A relative?


Lynne Cochran	Sep 30, 2004	San Leandro, CA	Sculpture-retired from Constru
Boy! do I remember. I went to school with Mollie Bee in the early 50's. In fact I remember when she stole my boyfriend and a school dance. I recall with fond memories sitting back-stage at the Legion listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford, known to us as Mr. Ford, singing arias from operas-so that we didn't think the only kind of music was the kind played on the stage out front. I also remember a guy names Tommy that got fresh with all of the girls. Meeting Frank Sinatra through his Daughter, Nancy. A redhead guy that sung I saw Momma Kissing Santa Claus. Wonderful slide guitar music and good old honky tonk fiddle. Lots of good memories, Oh! the teen aged years. Lynne Cochran


Sue Skelley	Nov 16, 2004	Cottonwood Ca	Retired Banker
I remember Bob Beachboard as a cheerleader (class of 57)when I was a freshman. He was Molly b's brother. Molly B also appeared with Tommy Sands at TCHS program. He was a country singer also. I was a freshman at the time. Sue Johns Class of 59


Bob Meza	Feb 14, 2005	Burbank, Ca	TV Engineer NBC
Anyone know where Molly Bee is now? Have a friend, Jerry Walsh, who had a cousin, Betty, that lived a few doors down from Molly. They were good friends. Jerry has since lost track of his cousin Betty, and thinks Molly might know where she is. Can anyone help?


Greg Reimer,'72	Feb 21, 2005	Glendora,CA.	journeyman mechanic
ve in 1966-67.Good man. He made you feel like you were'nt a lost cause. His daughter,Donna was a real sweetheart.I didn't know his son. I played the clarinet and the soprano sax.I didn't exactly like his successor and got him told off in my later years of high school,left band,etc,then received Christ as my Saviour,then later was a youth pastor at a church in Arcadia, where myself and four other young musicians had a jazz band featuring contemporary Christian music.That ended when somebody complained.Fifteen years later,I played the sax with a Christian rock band in a Foursquare church,currently I'm not playing, but still want to.Music can do anything, it depends how you want to use it. Thanks for the site,God bless you all according to His great love!! Greg.


Sylvia Alonso Vazquez	Aug 09, 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada	MRI Technologist
I enjoyed hearing everyone's comments about this talented man that has impacted so many. You were all very lucky to have known him. Sylvia '80


Doug Lindsey	Aug 20, 2005	Tampa, FL	Newspaper
Bill...it was a Plymouth Valiant, right? I remember some classic double dates in it. I also remember Mr G in National city in '59 caught a bunch of us with a bathtub of iced down beer the night before the big competition. All he said was, "Be careful". Marching with a Sousaphone and a hangover was an experience not to be forgotten. Doug


John Oberg	Dec 05, 2005	Victoria, BC, Canada	Retired school counsellor & te
Many fond memories of Mr. Godfrey from the '56 -'58 era when I was in Grade 9 & 10: marching band & dance band (trombone). Family moved in summer of '58, so have only a few but vivid memories of those days (Long Beach, National City,Rose Parades). Music experiences continued in the Seattle area with the Bremerton Symphony;at the University of Washington;the Seattle Opera Chorus;the USAFE (Wiesbaden)Band; Edmonton Symphony Chorus; University of Victoria Chorus; and my 18 year old daughter has 'discovered' my old trombone from the late '50's! All the best! PS Donna (Godfrey) Cannon: your Dad was a GREAT inspiration, a very humane person.


bill halverson	Jan 05, 2006	hendersonville,tn	music biz lectures
Doug L. And the dance band adventures too. Bill

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