According to CNN, Greenspan “showed his whimsical side Thursday” in a casual talk to class of inner-city students. When he was 16 years old, “he joined a traveling band, playing clarinet for $6 a week plus room and board.” “Money was money back then, it really bought something,” said Greenspan. He was born in 1926, so the year would have been 1942: in current dollars, $6 per week would be $67.73 per week plus room and board today. While the depreciation on the dollar’s value is remarkable, that salary would still send a signal that a career change was in order.
