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Layton was familiar with Paul Cartier, a 45-year-old full-time Air Traffic
Controller who played the organ part-time at the Nassau Coliseum for the
New York Islanders hockey team. Layton was also the full-time organist for
the Islanders until he retired last year. Cartier substituted for Layton during
games since 1980, until Layton’s retirement and then he prevailed as the
full-time organist for the Islanders.
Cartier was also the organist for the New York Arrows Indoor Soccer Team,
which inhabited the Nassau Coliseum from 1978 until the team disbanded in
1984. Therefore, although Layton was familiar with Cartier’s organ
playing resume in the sports spectrum of New York, he had never actually
heard him play-since they shared the organ at different times in the Nassau
Coliseum.
Layton hired Cartier immediately after he auditioned on the Hammond
Collanade Organ at Yankee Stadium last February. "Although I knew Eddie
all that time, he never heard me play because when he was not there (at
Islanders games), that is when I was playing, and if he was there, he was
playing rather than me," stated Cartier. "I came to Yankee Stadium in
February with snow still on the ground. I played a bunch of tunes that Eddie
asked me to play. Afterward he told me, ‘You are the guy,’"
remembered Cartier.
Notwithstanding his past organ playing achievements, Cartier disclosed that it
was a breathtaking experience the initial time that he sat at the Yankee Stadium
organ. "This is the ‘Cathedral!’ Oh yeah, (I was in awe) for sure! In
fact, I was hardly sitting down (at the organ) and Eddie asked me to do the
National Anthem or some song during the audition. I said, ‘One minute,
Eddie, let me take this all in!’ This is amazing to know that you are sitting
here where Eddie sat for 37 years. The whole experience is amazing," thrilled
Cartier, in the organist booth at Yankee Stadium.
A resident of South Hempstead, NY, Cartier has been playing the organ since
he was nine years old. He achieved a Bachelor of Science in Music Education
from Hofstra University in 1981. Cartier has been married to his wife Jan
for14 years. They have two children, a son Kevin, 16 years old, and a
daughter, Katie, 13. Besides his organ duties at Yankee Stadium and the
Nassau Coliseum, he has played the organ for 13 years at Our Lady of Hope
Church in Carle Place, Long Island. Cartier also works as a volunteer fireman
in his hometown and he holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Fire
Commissioners in South Hempstead.
Cartier’s sports affiliation was inspired by one of his music professors
while he was a student at Hofstra. Dr. Fred Mendelson shared his musical
talent with his students at Hofstra, while playing the organ for Islanders games
part-time on Tuesdays, when Layton did not play. One evening after class,
Mendelson invited his progressive student, Cartier, to join him in the organist
booth at the Nassau Coliseum during an Islanders game. Mendelson surprised
Cartier by asking him to play the organ during the game. Cartier must have
impressed his professor, because after Mendelson retired from Islanders
hockey in 1980, he asked Cartier to succeed him as the Islanders’ part-
time organist.
Cartier has pursued his organ talents to Yankee Stadium, in the Bronx, NY, a
venue that as he mentioned is "The Cathedral of Sports." He stated that "New
York, New York" is his favorite tune to play at Yankee Stadium."My theory is
that the Yankees want to keep the old time organ. They want to have the
traditional ballpark sound. Therefore, I do not get into playing too many newer
tunes. I stick with a lot of Broadway show tunes, old time Cole Porter songs,
classic organ sounds, to keep the tradition. ‘New York New York’ has
to be my favorite song to play," explained Cartier. "I read an article that stated
that there are only eight stadiums remaining with live organ music," commented
the newly hired Yankees’ organist. How lucky an organist is Cartier, who
grew up in NY, graduated from Hofstra and now plays one of the eight
stadium organs that stood the test of time. The organ in "The House That Ruth
Built!"
Alstrom Hired for Weekend Duty
Nonetheless, Eddie Layton’s job to pick a successor to his 37-year
career as the Yankees organist did not conclude with the hiring of Paul Cartier
in February 2004. Cartier’s full-time occupation as an Air Traffic
Controller scheduled him for weekend duty, at the Radar Facility, in
Ronkonkomo, NY. Therefore, the weekends, an essential time during the
Yankees baseball season, would still need an organist to spirit the crowd.
Ed Alstrom, 45 years old, has been playing the organ since he was five years
old. In what place most keyboard playing families might possess a piano,
Alstrom’s home as a child had an organ. His father, a plumber by trade,
was musically inclined and played the organ each evening after work with his
son.
The younger Alstrom had been dreaming of being the Yankee Stadium
organist since his initial visit to Yankee Stadium to see the Yankees play. He
reminisced, "I have played the organ since I was a young child. My dad took
me out to Yankee Stadium in 1967 when I was nine years old. I remember
hearing Eddie Layton play. I said to myself that is what I want to do. I love
baseball and I love playing the organ, so I want to do that someday!"
Alstrom is employed full-time for Music Industries Corporation, as the
Director of Marketing and Development. He had been working there for a few
months when he heard the news that Layton was retiring as the Yankee
Stadium organist. Although Alstrom pursued the job of Layton’s
successor fervently, it was the persistence of his wife of 19 years, Maxine, that
lead to Alstrom capturing the coveted position. "I heard Eddie was retiring. I
made some telephone calls but my wife was a little more persistent than me.
She made the call that finally got through to the person that was doing the
hiring, and they said to fax a resume. A week later, they called me back and
said that they wanted to hear me play," explained Alstrom. Maxine, Alstromâ
€™s wife, is a professional piano player and teaches piano.
In late March 2004, Alstrom visited Yankee Stadium to audition for his idol
Layton, on the famed Hammond Collanade organ. "I went to Yankee Stadium
and there was nobody there but me and Eddie Layton. I sat at the organ and
Eddie stood in the doorway of the booth. He asked me to play a little ‘New
York, New York,’ a little ‘Happy Birthday’ and some of the
National Anthem. I played forty-five seconds of each tune and the entire
process took about five minutes. Then Eddie said they’d let me know,"
depicted Alstrom. Not predicting that his dream had come true, Alstrom
thought, "I figured at that point that at least I got to play the organ at Yankee
Stadium. A week later, the Yankees called me and said that they would like to
have me play on Saturday and Sundays. I was on ‘cloud nine!’
Alstrom’s dream as a young child came to pass when he played the organ
at Yankee Stadium during the Yankees game against the Chicago White Sox
on Saturday, April 10, 2004. His initial tune played was his now organ partner
Cartier’s favorite song to play at Yankee Stadium, "New York, New
York."
Alstrom resides in Pine Brook, NY. He and his wife Maxine, have two
daughters, Sophie, 15 years old, and Nina, 10. He was an accomplished
musician many years before his Yankee Stadium appointment. He has played
alongside such musical talents as Bette Midler, Herbie Hancock, Chuck Berry,
Steely Dan, and Dion of the renowned Dion and the Belmonts. Alstrom is also
a member of Musicians Local 802 and he plays the organ in the orchestra
during Broadway show productions. Like Cartier, Alstrom also plays part-
time church organ. Alstrom has played for two years at the West Caldwell
Presbyterian Church, in West Caldwell, NY.
However, Alstrom’s claim to fame before his hiring at Yankee Stadium
may have been his trio, Acid Cabaret. He plays the piano and sings for the
group at Jazz and Cabaret Clubs in New York and New Jersey. The trio
released a Compact Disc last year titled "Acid Cabaret." Alstrom was
presented the Back Stage Biestro Award in 2003, for the group’s
Cabaret playing achievements. The award is sponsored by Back Stage Biestro
Magazine.
Bronxites are now introduced to the musicians that will attempt to fill the
traditional role as the Yankee Stadium organist, a position vacated after 37
years by a legend, Eddie Layton. Moreover, what does the professor, Layton,
say concerning his successors? "They are both extremely adequate, they are
going to do all right," anointed Layton.
Controller who played the organ part-time at the Nassau Coliseum for the
New York Islanders hockey team. Layton was also the full-time organist for
the Islanders until he retired last year. Cartier substituted for Layton during
games since 1980, until Layton’s retirement and then he prevailed as the
full-time organist for the Islanders.
Cartier was also the organist for the New York Arrows Indoor Soccer Team,
which inhabited the Nassau Coliseum from 1978 until the team disbanded in
1984. Therefore, although Layton was familiar with Cartier’s organ
playing resume in the sports spectrum of New York, he had never actually
heard him play-since they shared the organ at different times in the Nassau
Coliseum.
Layton hired Cartier immediately after he auditioned on the Hammond
Collanade Organ at Yankee Stadium last February. "Although I knew Eddie
all that time, he never heard me play because when he was not there (at
Islanders games), that is when I was playing, and if he was there, he was
playing rather than me," stated Cartier. "I came to Yankee Stadium in
February with snow still on the ground. I played a bunch of tunes that Eddie
asked me to play. Afterward he told me, ‘You are the guy,’"
remembered Cartier.
Notwithstanding his past organ playing achievements, Cartier disclosed that it
was a breathtaking experience the initial time that he sat at the Yankee Stadium
organ. "This is the ‘Cathedral!’ Oh yeah, (I was in awe) for sure! In
fact, I was hardly sitting down (at the organ) and Eddie asked me to do the
National Anthem or some song during the audition. I said, ‘One minute,
Eddie, let me take this all in!’ This is amazing to know that you are sitting
here where Eddie sat for 37 years. The whole experience is amazing," thrilled
Cartier, in the organist booth at Yankee Stadium.
A resident of South Hempstead, NY, Cartier has been playing the organ since
he was nine years old. He achieved a Bachelor of Science in Music Education
from Hofstra University in 1981. Cartier has been married to his wife Jan
for14 years. They have two children, a son Kevin, 16 years old, and a
daughter, Katie, 13. Besides his organ duties at Yankee Stadium and the
Nassau Coliseum, he has played the organ for 13 years at Our Lady of Hope
Church in Carle Place, Long Island. Cartier also works as a volunteer fireman
in his hometown and he holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Fire
Commissioners in South Hempstead.
Cartier’s sports affiliation was inspired by one of his music professors
while he was a student at Hofstra. Dr. Fred Mendelson shared his musical
talent with his students at Hofstra, while playing the organ for Islanders games
part-time on Tuesdays, when Layton did not play. One evening after class,
Mendelson invited his progressive student, Cartier, to join him in the organist
booth at the Nassau Coliseum during an Islanders game. Mendelson surprised
Cartier by asking him to play the organ during the game. Cartier must have
impressed his professor, because after Mendelson retired from Islanders
hockey in 1980, he asked Cartier to succeed him as the Islanders’ part-
time organist.
Cartier has pursued his organ talents to Yankee Stadium, in the Bronx, NY, a
venue that as he mentioned is "The Cathedral of Sports." He stated that "New
York, New York" is his favorite tune to play at Yankee Stadium."My theory is
that the Yankees want to keep the old time organ. They want to have the
traditional ballpark sound. Therefore, I do not get into playing too many newer
tunes. I stick with a lot of Broadway show tunes, old time Cole Porter songs,
classic organ sounds, to keep the tradition. ‘New York New York’ has
to be my favorite song to play," explained Cartier. "I read an article that stated
that there are only eight stadiums remaining with live organ music," commented
the newly hired Yankees’ organist. How lucky an organist is Cartier, who
grew up in NY, graduated from Hofstra and now plays one of the eight
stadium organs that stood the test of time. The organ in "The House That Ruth
Built!"
Alstrom Hired for Weekend Duty
Nonetheless, Eddie Layton’s job to pick a successor to his 37-year
career as the Yankees organist did not conclude with the hiring of Paul Cartier
in February 2004. Cartier’s full-time occupation as an Air Traffic
Controller scheduled him for weekend duty, at the Radar Facility, in
Ronkonkomo, NY. Therefore, the weekends, an essential time during the
Yankees baseball season, would still need an organist to spirit the crowd.
Ed Alstrom, 45 years old, has been playing the organ since he was five years
old. In what place most keyboard playing families might possess a piano,
Alstrom’s home as a child had an organ. His father, a plumber by trade,
was musically inclined and played the organ each evening after work with his
son.
The younger Alstrom had been dreaming of being the Yankee Stadium
organist since his initial visit to Yankee Stadium to see the Yankees play. He
reminisced, "I have played the organ since I was a young child. My dad took
me out to Yankee Stadium in 1967 when I was nine years old. I remember
hearing Eddie Layton play. I said to myself that is what I want to do. I love
baseball and I love playing the organ, so I want to do that someday!"
Alstrom is employed full-time for Music Industries Corporation, as the
Director of Marketing and Development. He had been working there for a few
months when he heard the news that Layton was retiring as the Yankee
Stadium organist. Although Alstrom pursued the job of Layton’s
successor fervently, it was the persistence of his wife of 19 years, Maxine, that
lead to Alstrom capturing the coveted position. "I heard Eddie was retiring. I
made some telephone calls but my wife was a little more persistent than me.
She made the call that finally got through to the person that was doing the
hiring, and they said to fax a resume. A week later, they called me back and
said that they wanted to hear me play," explained Alstrom. Maxine, Alstromâ
€™s wife, is a professional piano player and teaches piano.
In late March 2004, Alstrom visited Yankee Stadium to audition for his idol
Layton, on the famed Hammond Collanade organ. "I went to Yankee Stadium
and there was nobody there but me and Eddie Layton. I sat at the organ and
Eddie stood in the doorway of the booth. He asked me to play a little ‘New
York, New York,’ a little ‘Happy Birthday’ and some of the
National Anthem. I played forty-five seconds of each tune and the entire
process took about five minutes. Then Eddie said they’d let me know,"
depicted Alstrom. Not predicting that his dream had come true, Alstrom
thought, "I figured at that point that at least I got to play the organ at Yankee
Stadium. A week later, the Yankees called me and said that they would like to
have me play on Saturday and Sundays. I was on ‘cloud nine!’
Alstrom’s dream as a young child came to pass when he played the organ
at Yankee Stadium during the Yankees game against the Chicago White Sox
on Saturday, April 10, 2004. His initial tune played was his now organ partner
Cartier’s favorite song to play at Yankee Stadium, "New York, New
York."
Alstrom resides in Pine Brook, NY. He and his wife Maxine, have two
daughters, Sophie, 15 years old, and Nina, 10. He was an accomplished
musician many years before his Yankee Stadium appointment. He has played
alongside such musical talents as Bette Midler, Herbie Hancock, Chuck Berry,
Steely Dan, and Dion of the renowned Dion and the Belmonts. Alstrom is also
a member of Musicians Local 802 and he plays the organ in the orchestra
during Broadway show productions. Like Cartier, Alstrom also plays part-
time church organ. Alstrom has played for two years at the West Caldwell
Presbyterian Church, in West Caldwell, NY.
However, Alstrom’s claim to fame before his hiring at Yankee Stadium
may have been his trio, Acid Cabaret. He plays the piano and sings for the
group at Jazz and Cabaret Clubs in New York and New Jersey. The trio
released a Compact Disc last year titled "Acid Cabaret." Alstrom was
presented the Back Stage Biestro Award in 2003, for the group’s
Cabaret playing achievements. The award is sponsored by Back Stage Biestro
Magazine.
Bronxites are now introduced to the musicians that will attempt to fill the
traditional role as the Yankee Stadium organist, a position vacated after 37
years by a legend, Eddie Layton. Moreover, what does the professor, Layton,
say concerning his successors? "They are both extremely adequate, they are
going to do all right," anointed Layton.
| Inheriting the Yankee Stadium Organ Bronx Times Reporter, July 22, 2004 by Albert Coqueran |
A legend at Yankee Stadium is no longer present this
season. Eddie Layton, the organist for the New York
Yankees, retired at the end of last season, after 37
years as the Yankee Stadium organist. Yankees’
principle owner George Steinbrenner extended Layton
upon his departure the well-earned respect to select his
successor. Some may have thought the Yankees would
resort to musical tapes of the famed Layton tunes.
However, in February 2004, Layton auditioned
organists to assume his role and play the 25-year-old
Hammond Collanade Organ at Yankee Stadium, whose
ivories he "tickled" so gracefully for 37 years.
season. Eddie Layton, the organist for the New York
Yankees, retired at the end of last season, after 37
years as the Yankee Stadium organist. Yankees’
principle owner George Steinbrenner extended Layton
upon his departure the well-earned respect to select his
successor. Some may have thought the Yankees would
resort to musical tapes of the famed Layton tunes.
However, in February 2004, Layton auditioned
organists to assume his role and play the 25-year-old
Hammond Collanade Organ at Yankee Stadium, whose
ivories he "tickled" so gracefully for 37 years.
| Ed Alstrom (L) and Paul Cartier (R). Photograph by ALBERT COQUERAN |