Marine follows a musical tradition

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 10:26 a.m.

The celebration of the 225th birthday of the Marine Corps on Friday is a family affair for one Las Vegas musical family.

John Barclay, a 1986 Bonanza High School graduate, is on the minds of his mother, Evelyn, sister Kim and brother Steve, all of Las Vegas.

John, the son of the late Robert Barclay III, is the 33rd drum major for "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. John carries on a tradition begun by his father, who played clarinet and violin for the band from 1950 to 1957.

The Marine Band is America's oldest musical organization. Founded in 1778, the band has performed for every U.S. president since John Adams. Given the title "The President's Own" by Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band's primary mission is to provide music for the president of the United States.

Barclay, a master gunnery sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in the Corps, lives in Waldorf, Md., with his wife, Dina, and their daughter, Lindsay. He began his musical instruction in Las Vegas at age 5 with his father. Robert, who died in 1990, was as a Strip musician for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Lena Horn and Tony Bennett, as well as managing and conducting community groups such as the Las Vegas Studio Orchestra and Las Vegas Pops Orchestra.

Barclay, who now plays for presidents, cites humble beginnings of his musical career.

"I began following in my father's footsteps from my earliest memory," he said. "I can remember following him around the with a broom when he was sweeping up in the garage."

The music his father taught him, however, is what swept him into a rewarding career.

After playing in both concert and marching band at Bonanza, Barclay attended the University of Southern California and studied clarinet with Yehuda Gilad and Mitchell Lurie.

When the opportunity came to audition for the Marine Band, he didn't hesitate.

"With all the greats my father played with in Las Vegas and with his success as a conductor and leader, he was always proudest of the time he spent with the Marine Band," Barclay said. "I knew it's what I had to do."

He joined "The Presidents Own" in 1988 as a clarinetist and has since served as operations assistant, assistant drum major and administrative assistant to the director. He became the band's drum major in November 1999.