Walter James Blanton

Walt, we continue to have you in our hearts and minds.
You are missed and forever be loved by all who knew you. Blessings!

Walt & my brother played trumpet in the Kent Meridian Royalaires Stageband in High school. He had a nice high range!

I'm so sorry, I just discovered Walt's obituary.
Walt was a very good friend of mine in the 1960's at Western Washington State College in Bellingham, Wash.
We played in many groups together, partied a lot, and both graduated in 1966. Many good memories!
Ken Colvin

walt was a class act. did things well. i had the pleasure of being around him during my unlv years. I am aged and miss his presence. my heart goes out to his wife and fellow pals. Bless him Rest in Peace

Walt you are loved and in our hearts.

WEB MANAGER, PLEASE USE THIS WRITING TO CORRECT MISSTATEMENTS I MADE IN THE PREVIOUS VERSION. Thanks kindly.

HE TOOK A TROUBLED KID AND HIS TRUMPET UNDER HIS WING

Walt entered my boyhood life after hearing of a growing 8th-grade trumpeter without resources for private studies. Nick Stamanis, my Band Director at the time, passed the word about my situation - in addition to allowing me to earn funds for lessons by cleaning the band room at the end of each day. Nicks' gracious act brought about a changing influence which helped me to adjust during those and later years.

After my audition for Walt, Walt taught me to think about baseball and a similar flowing process through the trumpet and music lines in general. The imagery caught and is still with me 30-years later as I now teach my children.

We went on to spent the next 5 years of life meeting almost every week. After Junior High and my bandroom cleaning gig, Walt began meeting with me at no charge; saying to just pay when I could. He also went on to begin purchasing all of my materials, a recording session for Julliard, and even gave me the DEG Getzen Signature 2000 Trumpet prototype he and Tony Scodwell crafted. It's quite old now, but remains the only horn I've used for almost 30-years now: I'm sentimental and it plays well.

Later, when the logistics of driving were simply too difficult for my large family of cousins; Walt began picking me up at the bus stop down the road from his home and then driving me back to his home and then again a 40-60 minute roundtrip commute back to my home.

Years later, after I told him over the phone that we might be moving to a remote desert town a few hours away; Walt jumped right into talking about how we'd coordinate meeting for our weekly lessons. I mentioned that I didn't think it would be possible for me to get down to meet even partway; to which he jumped into thinking out loud how he could come to town.
(Thankfully, we did not move.)

However, for a boy who'd lived in many homes and questioned his value to others; I was completely endeared to him for life in showing such kindness to me.

He became a mentor whom I genuinely loved for his generous heart toward a scrawny little trumpeter and his horn.

HE TOOK A TROUBLED KID AND HIS TRUMPET UNDER HIS WING

Walt entered my boyhood life after hearing of a talented 8th-grade trumpeter with a troubled past and no money for private studies. I believe Nick Stamanis, one of my childhood band teachers passed the word - in addition to letting me clean the band room at the end of each day in order to start saving money for lessons. That was a critical gracious act he took to help me adjust during those years of a troubled home life.

After my audition with him, in that same visit he then taught me to think about baseball and flowing air through my horn. The imagery caught - and it still stays with me 30-years later - and we went on to spent the next 5 years of life meeting almost every week. After Junior High, Walt began meeting with me at no charge; saying to just pay when I could. He also went on to begin purchasing all of my materials, Julliard recording session, and even gave me one of his hand-man trumpets after I was accepted to all-state that freshman year. It remains the only horn I've used for almost 30-years now; I'm sentimental and it plays well.

Later, when the driving logistics were simply too difficult for my large family; Walt began picking me up at the city bus stop down the road from his home and then driving me his home and then 20-30 minutes back to my own.

Later, after I told him over the phone that we might be moving to a remote desert town a few hours away; Walt jumped right into talking about how we'd coordinate meeting for our weekly lessons. I mentioned that I didn't think it would be possible for me to get down to meet even partway, and proceeded to thinking out loud about he could come to town. Thankfully, we did not move.

However, for a boy who'd lived in many homes and questioned his value to others; I was completely endeared to him for life in showing so much kindness to me. I had even secretly hoped/wondered about what it might be to come to live with him and Carol.

I loved him.

My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Farewell, beautiful musician--composer and trumpet player. May you continue to make great music in heaven. They say God does a great Buddy Rich.
I shall remember our good times together at the Indiana University School of Music.

Please accept my sincere condolences. May you gain strength and peace by pouring out your heart to God in prayer. I'm sorry for your loss.

Carol,

We are so sorry for your loss and the loss of a sweet man and cousin! Walt was bigger than life to me when I was a kid and visited Auntie Loys nd Uncle Harry nd my comrade in the teen world - Joyce.

We will come visit!

Love you.

Jeff and Patty.

Walt was a great inspiration and a fine colleague. He helped me when I was a young student at IU, for which I am very grateful. He will be missed. May he Rest in Peace.

You touched so many lives, lit up the world with your talents, we will remember the joy you brought to so many.

I first met Walt at Uni. of Kentucky over 47 years ago in Sp. 1970.
In fall 1970, I became Walt's GA after studying with Bill Adam at I.U.
(Arguably one of the smartest academic moves I ever made)
At UK I performed in Lexington Brass Quintet/UK Faculty Brass Quintet & taught undergraduate trumpet. My musicianship as a professional trumpet player soared under his close guidance.
We became close friends fast and remained so. When Walt & Carol moved to Las Vegas in !973, I took a job at CSUC as Dir. of Jazz & Trumpet Instructor. Walt was a solo guest artist at CSUC several times from 1975 to 2011, his last visit. My replacement in @ 2002 was Rocky Winslow (UNLV Jazz Instructor). Walt encouraged Rocky to apply for the CSUC Dir. of Jazz Studies position and Walt's recommendation placed Rocky on top of a very short list.
When I played Paul Anka's Tour 1984-'85 and was in Las Vegas for weeks, Walt & Carol let me stay with them. Walt convinced Don Getzen (DEG) to allow me to be their Piccolo Trumpet "rep" & I found out much later that Walt had actually given me the DEG proto type (1st), rather than a great copy, but the original DEG Piccolo A/Bb Trumpet. I personally know that Walt treated everyone like this. Every time I performed with Walt, classical or commercial "gig", shared a clinic or taught with him, I was acutely aware of the high standard Walt set for all of us! To date, I know very few musicians who are considered a 1st class professional performer, teacher, composer in both the jazz & classical idioms. As the "Duke" said, "Beyond Category". Walter J. Blanton You Are Loved Madly & In The Hearts of So Many!
My Dearest Friend, May God Bless You, May His Grace Shine Upon You & Give You Everlasting Peace! May God's Grace & Peace Cover Your Bride, Carol & Other Family Members Today & Always! ps (My God, I Truly Miss You & Someday We'll Meet Again)

Walter and I shared friendship and music. When he helped form the Nevada Jazz Orchestra he got me in it! He will be missed greatly!!

Archie Wheeler

Walter was a friend and a fellow musician through the years. When he helped form the Nevada Jazz orchestra he made me a part of it. He will be greatly missed.

Archie Wheeler

Thoughts of sympathy are with you today at this time of loss. Numbers 6:24-26

Condolences to Carol and family.
It was my pleasure knowing and playing with Walt since 1975 here in Las Vegas.
He will be missed more than I can imagine.
Walt Boenig

May the God of all comfort bring peace to you and your family during this difficult time.