Hometown Jams: Home

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Upside of R&R Home

Home Town Jams: The Beginning

     In 8th grade one of my classes at Roosevelt Junior High School was wood shop. A time of day to be looked forward to, not only because there was no home work involved, but because I had a friend named Eric Almquist that I used to get really silly with in that class.

Eric Almquist	Your's truly

   We'd be working on some wood project at a bench and off we'd go into "Ruby, Ruby, Ruby" and "Run Around Sue" by Dion and the Belmonts. Filing away at a piece of wood and doing the "boys standing on the street corner" harmony thing. Cool. We didn't sound bad, either. Seems like we sang a lot in that class. Just bull shittin' around, you know. Tongue in cheek stuff, but serious as hell.

All 8th graders have a teacher that is considered the "babe" of the school by all the young men fresh into puberty. To many of us, the teacher "of choice" was Miss Marjorie Peterson. Very pretty, indeed. She signed my yearbook, and as I reread it after all these years, it brought a smile to my face. A wonderful teacher, and way more inspiring than she realized.

The Music Store

 I used to go down to the old Modesto Music Store on 13th street and look at the guitars. I would smell them, too. There was something very captivating about the smell of Gibson guitar polish. I loved reading the old Fender promo sheets with their new models listed. I remember when "piggy back" amps (amplifier separate from the speakers) first came out. They had a new finish called "Tolex." The owner of the store at that time was Hank De Coito. He had a slight limp, walked with a cane and was a wonderfully gentle man. I learned over the passing years just how much Hank loved music. He played trumpet and had his own band ... the Hank De Coito band. I saw and heard them play at the Del Rio Country Club and the Elks lodge in Modesto. Although it was music from a different generation, it was beautiful. Hank had such a wonderful tone on his trumpet. They played songs like "I'm in the mood for love" and "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White." Due to a heart condition, Hank was told by his doctor that he had to stop playing horn or it would eventually kill him. Knowing this, Hank DeCoito made the choice to continue playing music. The end came right on the bandstand while playing one night. Hank's heart had given out. While playing his horn had a heart attack and died right there. I hope that when my time comes, I will be like Hank and it will happen while I'm doing what I love: making music.

 As I think back on Hank's music store, it brings to mind today's music stores. People often ask me where the music bug starts. That's a hard question to answer because it's different for each individual. I would like to say this: Music stores are a great institution. A place where kids can come in and gawk at the pretty instruments ... get them down off the wall, and doodle with them. These places are oh so important to the development of music culture in our society. Not just the schools, but the music stores themselves. In Modesto it would be Skips Music, Barkers Music, and Bucks Music. Without these places of business, young musical inclinations would be stifled. Yes, they are merchants, but, I strongly recommend that the community be supportive of them. The music lives there and it also lives in the garages of the parents who have the aspiring kids. Try and be a little more accepting of the loud drummer and guitar player that only know 2 songs and are driving you nuts with their volume right next door.

The Gateway to Inspiration 

  Parents get very concerned, and maybe rightfully so, with their kids getting involved with music too much. The age old worry is: "I don't want them to become music bums, but I do want them to pursue their dreams." You won't find a definitive answer from me. You make the call. Just remember this: That pretty piano you have sitting in your living room; the one where your son or daughter keeps opening and closing the bench ... and you went off on them cause you were afraid they would hurt it. To heck with the bench. You can get a new one. Let 'em do it. If they play with the bench and it's okay ... then they will doodle on the piano, too. If you're too worried about them hurting the piano ... well, that will be a definite message to them. Stay off! You can teach them to respect the instrument and to treat it appropriately without stifling them OR risking harm to your piece of furniture ... if that's all it is to you. That may have been a bit harsh. Instruments are a thing of beauty. That's a fact. A philosophy that shouldn't be ignored is .... DOODLING: The Gateway to inspiration, creativity and fun. It's how you GET to be good. It has to be your hobby. You don't choose a hobby that will get you into trouble (Not at that age, at least). Set the hook by letting them surprise themselves with what they can figure out by doodling. An important thing ... doodling. Try it sometime and see how good it makes you feel to figure out the notes for "Heart and Soul." You'll find yourself walking through the house, when nobody's around, and as you pass that piano you won't be able to resist sitting down to prove to yourself that you still remember it. And of course, you won't, but almost ... so you sit there completely intrigued with your efforts until you get it right again. Pretty soon you can walk by that piano and get it right the first time. Soon you're hoping someone heard you that "one good time" that you did it perfect. At that point ... you're on your way. On your way to enjoying a lifetime of music and all the joy that it brings. Trust me. You can do it. Music can be fun at all levels. You don't have to be a master musician to enjoy it or make it sound pretty good. The more you like it, the more you'll play. The more you play, the better it gets and the better the music sounds. Practice makes perfect, as they say. Just don't let the prospect of practice become a vision of "drudgery." Whatever you do ... DON'T DO THAT. Leave that instrument on a "good note" so you'll be wanting to come back the next time.

Music and Teenagers

  Often, teenagers have no place to go and have fun and listen to music. They are not old enough to go into bars where bands play. In Modesto, we recently had a place called "Tee's and Greens" on Oakdale road that was formerly a practice driving range shop that was used to house teenage bands and served pizza. This was a great, great place for kids. Unfortunately, it closed due to a raise in rent ... or so I was told. The property sat there vacant for about 4 or 5 years. What a waste. The proprietor was very supportive of the kids. He had, in fact, lost a teenage son in a driving accident. He was an outstanding contributor to the community. It was more an act of love than an attempt to generate a retirement fund for himself. He was having multiple young local bands in every week and the attendance was growing. Oh, I suppose you could make a case for "too much orneriness goes on in the parking lot" in places "like that." Actually, it was very together and a very wholesome environment for teenagers. Look at it this way: Orneriness is a natural part of growing up. For some, more than others. It's good to protect and guide your children, but, allow them some freedom. Help support places that provide a good, fun environment for them to mingle, dance, and grow up in. Roller rinks are fine, but, give the kids a place where they can hear a live band and they will come. Give them a release valve. They're going to find one anyway. Why not be involved in what is available to them? They'll love you for it.