Gerald Vernon Drane, well-known Memphis musician, died on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 90 years old. A native of Memphis, he moved to Texas in his teens and graduated from high school in Wichita Falls. During World War II, he served in the US Army in Italy and Austria. After returning to Memphis, he obtained his Bachelor’s in Music and Master’s in Education degrees from then Memphis State College. He was a musician for practically all of his life, serving as a choir director at numerous churches in the Memphis area, and as a vocal soloist and a member of the bass section of many choirs, including many years at Second Presbyterian Church. Vernon also sang principal roles in many Opera Memphis productions, and in the Memphis Symphony Chorus. He also played saxophone in numerous bands, often serving as arranger for those groups. He played baritone saxophone for the Bill Justis band for many years, including their 1957 hit Raunchy, which he also named. Vernon worked at Amro Music for 68 years until his final retirement in 2013, most of the time “out front” selling pianos and band instruments, and more recently, repairing instruments. An avid devotee of all things Scottish, he played the bagpipes on many festive and solemn occasions. He was a long-time member of the Scottish American Military Society. He leaves a daughter, Karen D. Busler of Bartlett; and two sons, Gerald A. Drane of Cumming, Georgia and Windel V. Drane of Southaven, MS. Visitation will be at Forest Hill Cemetery East, 2440 Whitten Road, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23. Funeral services will be at Forest Hill on Friday at 2 p.m., with interment following. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to any charitable organization. Forest Hill Funeral Home East (Published in The Commercial Appeal on October 21, 2014)

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