Article by Mary Jane Dye, Editor, Golden Gazette, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2021 October)
"I’m not shy,” claims Jay Converse, otherwise known as TubaGuy, and he quickly consented to an interview.
For anyone who has witnessed Jay’s one man show, it is obvious that he is certainly far from shy. “I enjoy parading around the community playing my sousa tuba. I’ve noticed that the kids love me, and dogs hate me,” he laughs. As for the parents, “They watch in disbelief, but I can tell they like it.”
Being in the spotlight comes naturally to Jay. He garnered attention when he began playing the trumpet in middle school. “I was really good,” he says with pride, “And when you’re good at something—especially a cool brass instrument, you get noticed.”
When Jay entered the University of Virginia (UVA), he was still playing trumpet until...he had an epiphany. While out with cohorts, he realized that it would be more fun to play a sousaphone with a newly formed pep band that he founded. His logic was that it was better to decorate a larger instrument, and it was much easier to play for hours at a time.
Accordingly, he got creative with his sousa by painting giant faces, some off-color phrases and more. “Once I made a giant toilet seat that moved up and down on a string, and another time a replica of UVA’s Rotunda. How fun is that?” he asks with a twinkle in his eye. He also claims that you can see the sousaphone from the back of the stadium ensuring attention, and after all, Jay’s not shy.
He continued performing as a founding member of the UVA Pep Band until graduation in 1975 and—until the pandemic—was playing in the George Mason University (GMU) pep band called the “Green Machine.” The Green Machine is a pep band that invites all who play to come and join them. “It is diverse in many ways—young, old, Black, White and everything in between,” he says enthusiastically. “I can’t wait for GMU basketball to start again!” Jay has performed with the GMU Green Machine for eight years. “I really love the energy of the crowds. It’s exciting!”
Jay came up with the idea of walking with his “sousa” when UVA was having a pep band reunion. “It was 2005, and I needed to get my chops back in shape,” he laughs. Jay started to practice at home, but his family wasn’t keen about the noise. Not to be deterred, he walked to Braddock Road and set up his music stand and practiced. “I just stood there with my stand, but it was boring,” he explained, “So, I started walking.”
He soon realized that not only were his chops out of shape, so were his legs. “I could barely walk a block.” After a year or so, he amazingly exceeded his expectations and walked a marathon from downtown D.C. to Fairfax. Inspired by his success, he walked another marathon from Mount Vernon to D.C. in a Santa suit. “The Santa suit got a lot of chuckles with a few ho, ho, ho’s,” he adds.
Jay’s typical route is his neighborhood to Route 123 and along Braddock Road near GMU. He says that he covers about three miles roundtrip and doesn’t have a schedule for going out, but he prefers a cool breeze. A few years’ back, I heard him playing his sousaphone at a stop light on Braddock Road. Initially, I thought that the local high school band was practicing until I saw this man walking along the sidewalk with a big, round, shiny instrument, decorated with crazy stuff.
He was approaching the light when, as if on cue, cars began to toot their horns to accompany him. Some rolled their car windows down to cheer him and wave. I couldn’t help but think about all the joy he was bringing to commuters on their way to work or school. What a great way to begin a day! As I moved past him, I noticed that he was also enjoying the attention. Later I learned that he is called TubaGuy or TubaMan even though he plays a sousaphone. Jay prefers TubaGuy and even has the name stenciled on his trashcans.
Jay’s sousaphone is fiberglass. It is lighter than the concert tuba and, of course, is easier to carry when marching. John Philip Sousa, famous bandleader, came up with a design for it in 1893 and had it made by J.W. Pepper. At the time, it was heavy brass as lighter materials were not available.
The sousaphone carries its sound above the heads of the band as the instrument ends in a large flaring bell that points forward. Like the tuba, sound is produced by moving air past the lips, causing them to vibrate or "buzz" into a large, cupped mouthpiece. “It’s still heavy, but not too bad,” says Jay. “At least it’s not brass.”
Jay has lived in the county and area for decades. He is a computer consultant who has been working from home for nine years. “There was no transition for me during COVID,” he practically brags.
Jay has no plans for retiring from his day job or TubaGuy performances. “It’s my only hobby, and it keeps me in touch with community. I don't have a big social group of friends, and with GMU Basketball on hold, I need something to do.”
He claims to have no words of wisdom regarding life. “Hey, I am a tuba player, not a philosopher,” he laughs.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).