|
|
In '64 I heard Robbie Basho from California play his old Mexican 12 string guitar and fell in love with its sound. So I bought a broken Mexican 12 string from the PH Phactor Jug Band from Seattle and fixed it up, worked on my finger picking, played the 12 strings with a copper slide and explored open tunings. In the winter of '73-'74 I had the Mexican 12 string rebuilt by an excellent guitar maker, making it better sounding and much easier to play. It is still my main guitar today.
Around 1970 I hung out and jammed with artist /musician Frank Linkert. Frank sold me his Yamaki 12 string before going on a trip to Europe. With the Yamaki 12, I accompanied Brent Titcomb in a concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Then we went on tour and played in Toronto, Jamaica and Los Angeles. Brent and I formed Rain Forest Music to copyright and publish the songs I wrote at the time. I still have the Yamaki guitar and now play it as a 6 string or a 9 string.
In Roberts Creek I wrote many songs and played a lot them with Hahle Gerow, Jesse Clark and Dennis James. Hahle was an excellent singer and also a prolific song writer. Dennis, as well as being a crack bass player, is an excellent six string, finger picker. On this site you can hear us playing together.
|
Through Brent Titcomb, I got to play gigs at the Hovel Coffee House in Edmonton, one with Dennis James and one with Hahle Gerow. Our music was recorded at radio station CKUA by Holger Peterson. Also in the '70s I played with guitarists Clarke Steabner and Andrew Krumins at coffee houses in Roberts Creek and in Vancouver, BC.
Around 1980 I met Terry Cowderoy who played music with mutual friend, Sam Dill. Terry played blistering electric blues and rock 'nd roll. Sam played solid reggae chops on his electric guitar and sang with great feeling. They asked me to play electric bass for them, and Full Watts was born. We had a lot of fun playing a number of gigs at the local Legion and the Roberts Creek Community Hall. There are some recordings featuring Terry and Sam that are still favorites from that era.
Terry collaborated musically with local poet, Peter Trower. Terry asked Sam and I to join him, and together we formed Peter's back-up band, affectionately known as The Industrial Accident. The concert we played with Peter at the Arts Centre in Sechelt was particularly well received. A bootleg recording of that gig may be available some day.
|
In 1991 when Cindy and I got together we discovered many common threads in our musical pasts. On the occasion of our marriage we played 4 songs for the assembled guests. One of Cindy's band mates, Katie, played her violin for us and long time friend, Hahle, played guitar and sang us a number of her songs.
Since living in the city again, art, photography and video have been the consuming passions. I only pick up my 12 string occasionally and play it because I do so love its sound.