Wayne Hoey, a U.S. Army veteran, was on a Delta AirLines flight that was delayed due to operational issues when he noticed some children starting to fuss.
Hoey called a flight attendant who was handing out water and offered to help.
“I asked her, ‘Would you like me to play some songs on my saxophone? I think it can calm down,’” he said.
The flight attendant got permission from the cabin and Hoey began an impromptu serenade. He played Christmas songs while passengers clapped, sang along and made song requests.
Hoey treated the audience to holiday classics including “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Silent Night.” The musician, who has four children and 10 grandchildren, also hasn’t forgotten the reason he first picked up the saxophone: children. He played the children’s classic, “Baby Shark,” for a little one who was bouncing up and down in her seat.
See moment:
“All these songs mean something to someone,” he commented. “They create connections.”
He played in the US Army Band for decades
Hoey’s life has always been intertwined with music.
He learned to play the saxophone while serving in the Army. The veteran attended the Armed Forces School of Music at the U.S. Navy’s Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia, near Norfolk, and performed in the U.S. Army Band for two decades, including a stint with the Eighth Army Band in Korea. from the South.
“The saxophone transcends almost all musical genres,” he argued. “You’ll find it in classical music, in period music — different eras,” he continued. “In rock, in jazz, in reggae. It’s so easy to enjoy and listen.”
After retiring from the Army, Hoey attended Colorado State University and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education. He taught music in Colorado schools before moving to a suburb of Augusta, Georgia, where he serves as a substitute middle and high school music teacher.
“It’s a joy to teach music to children. It really is.”
“Music is all I’ve ever done, and I feel comfortable doing it,” he added. “This is a wonderful time of year.”
Delta AirLines applauded Hoey’s musical performance.
“While Delta’s in-flight entertainment system offers hundreds of options to engage our customers, we are grateful to them for providing this relaxed moment, as well as their service to our country,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to CNN .
Viral presentation on the plane
A passenger, Kate Dailey, filmed Wayne Hoey playing the saxophone and posted the video on Facebook.
“I was surprised and delighted when this gentleman got up, set up his saxophone and started playing Christmas carols, up and down the hall. The mood on the plane changed immediately,” she wrote in the post.
“Thank you, good sir, for your service then (for the Army) and now. You just renewed my faith in humanity,” he declared.
Before posting, he had no idea anyone had recorded a video or that it was a hit on social media.
“I usually play with my eyes closed. So I didn’t see many people with cameras,” he said.
Hoey has several saxophones and carries at least one wherever he goes. He plans to continue the tradition, which he has maintained since the Army. “You never know when you’ll have the chance to put a smile on people’s faces,” he concluded.
This content was originally published in Video: Man plays Christmas songs with saxophone during delayed flight in the USA on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
