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The "El Patio" gigs

   While in Modesto, one of the places that was available for me to play as a minor, was the El Patio located on McHenry Avenue. They served food, had a bar and a very nice, inside garden motif with a nice atmosphere. One night, I played as a "single" there. I will never forget it and make reference to it in my mind whenever I see a soloist playing in a lounge somewhere. I have great respect for what that takes. I played every song I knew, two or three times! Started at 9:00 p.m. and finished at 2:00 am.

   One night, Dean Wright and Earl Knight were playing a gig at the El Patio, so I put my old unpainted Fender Broadcaster in a gunny sack and walked in. You know, doing the old blues man routine. Ha. Here I was, a kid of 18 and doing a routine like that. They cracked up. I sat in and played a number of songs with them that night.

   There were many, many more nights at the El Patio with either Earl Knight or Izzy Alvarado on bass, Dean on drums and me on guitar, booked as Dean-o and the Playmates. Those gigs were really important to me. A foundational experience in working with audiences, up close audiences, especially. Foundational in working with musicians in a club situation. I have warm memories of those days and my friendships with band members. Often we would pack up and go to the Red Vest / PK a Go Go, to do the after hours gig as well. I knew this was what I wanted, but could I make a living at it? Lord knows my Dad was skeptical and worried for me. In retrospect, he should have been skeptical. It was a crap shoot, really. My love of music, together with a little naivety was what got me through. Hanging out to all hours of night. If my dad had been living in Modesto at the time, instead of working in Ukiah, I doubt I would have been permitted to "hang" like that and just go for it. In that sense, it worked out good for me. Had I not had that period in my life, I may not have been equipped for what was to come. My mother always loved that I was going after the music thing. She worried a lot, but loved it.

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