[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF GIL IBERG, ``BIG BAND MOUTH OF THE SOUTH''

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                            HON. JIM McCRERY

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 1999

  Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize today my 
constituent, Gil Iberg, known by many as ``Big Band Mouth of the 
South.'' Gil Iberg has distinguished himself as a true connoisseur of 
big band music and has amassed an extraordinary collection of roughly 
1,000 cassettes and 100 albums, containing the music of over 200 big 
bands. To make sure he misses no opportunity to add to his collection, 
Gil keeps a radio/cassette recorder on his bedside table so he can tape 
big band broadcasts.
  Gil learned to play the trumpet when he was young, following the 
footsteps of his father, who played a bass fiddle in a local band in 
his hometown of Highland, Illinois. Although he caught big band fever 
when he was young, he didn't start collecting records and tapes until 
the 1960s, when the popularity of the music began to wane. Afraid that 
he might lose access to the music he loved, Gil began to collect his 
own supply. Gil has also seen many big bands in person, including Glenn 
Miller's and Artie Shaw's ensembles.
  In the words of Gil himself, ``I could talk about big bands all day 
and all night. I live and breathe and eat big band music. I play big 
band music every day of the week, and I exchange tapes and letters with 
other big band buffs from all over the country.''
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending Gil Iberg for following his 
dream and becoming an expert in his chosen hobby. In more of his own 
words, ``Some men fish or hunt. Some men golf. My thing is big bands. 
For me, there's nothing like it.''

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