I met Tony around 1964 when we were in the  Robin Hood Band. He used to drive  me to rehearsals in his old, 1956 Chevy, trying to scare me  to death by seeing how close he could get to parked cars. We never hit anything, but I surely expected to a few times. We were also in the American Youth Symphony and a few woodwind quintets together (I play the french horn and loved playing along with Tony's bassoon). I met his wife, Luz, and their two sons and we went to the beach together probably in the 1980's sometime, after he had returned from Peru. I had been wishing that I knew how to contact him for a few years and am sorry to have missed his sweet, smiling presence. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was always ready to join his friends for a good time. Rest in peace, Little Tony!

I remember spending many hours with Tony and this family while in High School and College.  What a warm loving family.  Tony was a wonderful musician and a true friend. I was recently looking  at my wedding photos and fondly remembering Tony as one of my ushers.

I hope both Patsy and Nancy are well.  I hope they get this message as I only now discovered it.  Peace and love to you.

Tony was a great friend in High School.  I went to Eagle Rock High, and he went to  Franklin, I think.  Anyway, I played French Horn and Tony played Bassoon.  We became good friends.  One of my favorite memories is sitting at the kitchen table at Tony's house, while his mother, a saintly woman, would cook tacos on the stove, and pass them steaming hot to the table.  All we had to do was bring the ingredients, and she always cooked for us!  God bless her!  And, how she loved Tony.  She just beamed at him.  Tony was so good on the Bassoon.  The way he could rip through the Mozart Bassoon Concerto astounded me.  And, I remember how he always kept his reed soaking in Drambuie!  Rest in peace my friend.  I'm sorry I didn't get to say "goodbye."

I first met Tony at the summer high school music program at San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN) around 1967 or so. Tony was the teacher's assistant coaching our chamber music group. Tony was an excellent chamber music coach, and had had success with this own chamber group, winning the prestegious Coleman award with a  woodwind quintet that included a number of highly talented musicians.

I later saw Tony at his going away party on his second visit to Peru, and eventually went to Peru myself along with our late mutual friend Don Ransom.

It was in Peru that I met my future wife, and I was with Tony on that  first meeting. Tony and I were on our way to breakfast, and met Martha who was on her way to a lesson at the conservatory in Lima. I owe Tony a great debt for having first introduced us.

Tony was always known for the warm and full quality of his bassoon sound as well as the  communicative musical approach to playing  with his fellow musicians.

Multiple medical issues clouded his last years, but we can all remember his good humor and bright promise of earlier times.

I knew Tony longer than almost anyone except my family.  We first met in Meremblum's youth orchestra, probably about 1960 or 1961.  Later we played together for several years in the National Symphony of Peru.  I also had the honor to be a member of the wedding party when he and Luz were married.  We almost lost touch with each other when he and Luz were living in California and I was living in Indiana, but we re-connected in 2015.  It fills me with sorrow to know that we will not meet again in this life.  My deepest condolences to his family.

OBITUARY

Anthony Alfred Kuhlmann

22 October, 1945 – 11 January, 2020

Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park and Mortuary

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