▁trom bon ist ▁opt ed ▁for ▁the ▁greater ▁cert aint ies ▁of ▁joining ▁his ▁father ' s ▁coal ▁business ▁rather ▁than ▁purs uing ▁the ▁life ▁of ▁a ▁professional ▁music ian . ▁He ▁continued ▁to ▁lead ▁an ▁amateur ▁group ▁in ▁local ▁functions ▁on ▁week ends ▁in ▁the ▁Sy rac use ▁area , ▁and ▁did ▁so ▁for ▁almost ▁half ▁a ▁century . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁Will co x ▁was ▁invited ▁to ▁take ▁part ▁in ▁a ▁re union ▁concert ▁for ▁the ▁Gold k ette ▁band ▁at ▁Car neg ie ▁Hall , ▁where ▁he ▁renew ed ▁acquaint ance ▁with ▁viol in ist ▁Joe ▁Ven uti . ▁Ven uti ▁persu aded ▁the ▁trom bon ist , ▁now ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁coal ▁business , ▁to ▁join ▁him ▁on ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁club ▁engag ements , ▁and ▁they ▁worked ▁together ▁until ▁the ▁viol in ist ' s ▁death ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁by ▁which ▁time ▁Will co x ▁had ▁firm ly ▁re - est ab lished ▁himself ▁on ▁the ▁music ▁scene . ▁ ▁He ▁began ▁to ▁play ▁regularly ▁in ▁America , ▁including ▁many ▁appearances ▁at ▁the ▁celebrated ▁Sac r amento ▁Jazz ▁J ub ile e , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁regular ▁visitor ▁to ▁Europe . ▁In ▁addition , ▁he ▁made ▁some ▁appearances ▁with ▁V ince ▁Gi ord ano ' s ▁N ighth aw ks ▁Orchestra . ▁ ▁He ▁also ▁made ▁a ▁rare ▁vent ure ▁into ▁the ▁recording ▁studio ▁with ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁Dutch ▁mus icians ▁in ▁Amsterdam ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4