Ted began performing with the St. Catherine of Sienna Queensmen in the late 50’s, becoming a master of the bass baritone. His ability to coax pedal tones from that instrument is legendary. The final note of the intro of “I’ll Walk With God” on the 1962 Carnegie Hall recording is probably still resonating in that hallowed house.

He moved onto the Sunrisers in 1963, where he played contra well into the 80’s. Ted began to set the agenda for that newly developed instrument expanding its role from simply harmonic to solo virtuosity. His features in “Defile”, “Goldfinger”, “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” and “Rock-a-Bye” reveal why many have called him the “Godfather of the Contra Bass”.

Never one to seek accolades, Ted devoted his considerable talents and energy to teaching numerous junior corps like the LI Kingsmen, Smithtown Freelancers, Oceanside Legionnaires and a host of others. Just as the masters before him, he introduced hundreds of young people to the sheer joy of playing the bugle. Ted can count great players like Ray Fallon and Wayne Downey among his students.

One would be hard pressed to find a more worthy member of the BHOF – Ted Sasso.