Yes, Gene Shaffer was a great musician. Billy is very good too. There are many musicans in the stunt community. I think that this helps your timing in maneuvers. Even Ted Fancher plays the piano. Bob Lampione is a fantastic singer, and was in an award winning barbershop quartet. Ashford is a excellent player, and Brickhaus was a H.S music teacher.
Personally, I have been playing in small combos piano bars, and hotels since I was about 15 yrs old. In high school I played piano and upright bass in the orchestra, and graduated #1 in music. Then went to engrg at Parks College, ST Louis U.
I spent 9 yrs in the St Louis area and music has always been part of my life. Like Phil, I also played about 1 1/2 years at Shakey's in St Louis, (piano) with a banjo and tuba player, and also played on some river boats.. lots of fun.
Back in the NY/NJ area, I played a min. of 3 nights a week in restaurants, hotels, piano bars, jazz clubs, and also in traditional/ dixieland jazz bands. I miss the piano bars, because it was very social, and I can tell many stories about the people.
Now in Texas, I do less but have averaged about once a month over the last few years in restaurants and jazz clubs. I also plan to get to some ragtime and traditional jazz band festivals over the next year. This is a happy music, and as I already said, lots of fun.