I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO. IN THE 50’S, I LEARNED TO PLAY ACCORDION AND GUITAR. IN 1959, I GOT A PRESTO DISC RECORDER, AND WAS HOOKED ON RECORDING. SOON AFTER, I GRADUATED TO A WIRE RECORDER. IN THE 60’S, I STARTED PLAYING BASS (see photo above). WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE PLAYED ALONG SIDE OF SOME GREAT ARTISTS, SUCH AS ROY ORBISON, BOBBY GOLDSBORO, AND MANY OTHERS THAT I CAN’T THINK OF RIGHT NOW (old-timers disease) MANY OF THE YOUNG MUSICIANS THAT ALL KNEW EACH OTHER, HAVE GONE ON TO ACHIEVE GREAT HEIGHTS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. SOME OF THESE ARE PETE CETERA, PAUL COTTON, JAMES VINCENT, KAL DAVID, AND MANY MORE. THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO PETE CETERA, HE WAS IN MY BACK YARD IN DOLTON ILLINOIS, AND HE TRADED ME HIS FENDER PIGGY-BACK BASSMAN AMP FOR MY AMPEG B-15 PORTAFLEX AMP. ( i wish i had either amp here in the studio now) I WENT ON THE ROAD IN 1968 AND WOUND UP IN BOSTON, HUNG AROUND WITH SOME MEMBERS OF GROUPS THAT LATER BECAME AERO SMITH AND BOSTON. MY 10 PEICE BAND TOURED THE WORLD INCLUDING SEVERAL TRIPS TO JAPAN, HAWAII, AND WE WORKED THE GAMBLING CIRCUIT REGULARLY IN 1971, I STARTED “THE MUSICIANS WORKSHOP” AND ATTENDED BERKLEY SCHOOL OF MUSIC. A BAND CALLED “WAYNE COCHRAN & THE CC RIDERS, PLAYED THE SAME GAMBLING CIRCUIT AS OUR BAND, AND I GOT TO BE FRIENDS WITH ONE OF THE HORN PLAYERS (Tedon) WHEN EVER WE WERE PLAYING CLUBS THAT WERE CLOSE, WE WOULD ALWAYS ARRANGE A TIME, AND GET LOADED. IN 1977, WE WERE PLAYING “NERO’S NOOK AT CEASERS PALACE, AND WAYNE WAS PLAYING ACROSS THE STREET AT THE FLAMINGO. AS USUAL, ME AND TEDON ARRANGED TO MEET. WE PLAYED A SHOW AT 2:00 pm, 9:00 pm, 1:00 am, and 4:00 am. WE AGREED TO MEET BEFORE OUR 1:00 am SHOW. I ASKED HIM WHAT HE HAD (weed) AND HE SAID “JESUS” THAT KIND OF THRU ME AND DISAPPOINTED ME, AS I WANTED TO GET HIGH WITH HIM. HIS PREACHING TO ME DIDN’T IMPACT ME AT ALL BACK THEN, BUT I NOW REALIZE THAT A SEED WAS PLANTED. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW TEDON. IN 1979 MY BAND GOT A RECORD DEAL AND WE RELOCATED TO LA AND WORKED WITH JOE JULIANO WHO WAS CHAKA KAHN’S PRODUCER AT THE TIME. THE PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SEEMED CRAZY. EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO SHOVE THIS JESUS DUDE DOWN MY THROAT. SOME OF THE GUYS IN THE BAND GOT HOMESICK AND WANTED OUT, AND WE BROKE UP. I MOVED MY STUDIO GEAR OUT HERE TO LA AND WENT IN PARTNERS WITH UNITED AUDIO ONCE OWNED BY THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS. IT WAS A LARGE 3 ROOM STUDIO GEARED FOR AUDIO, VIDEO, AND FILM. ONE OF THE ENGINEERS THAT WERE THERE (Tim) KEPT BUGGING ME TO GO TO THIS PLACE CALLED CALVARY CHAPEL IN COSTA MESA. AFTER MANY TIMES BUGGING ME, I FINALLY AGREED TO GO TO A CONCERT THERE. ON MY WAY TO THE CONCERT, I TRIED, BUT COULDN’T SCORE ANY POT, AND I HAD TO GO STRAIGHT! WHEN THE BAND (Benny Hester) STARTED TO PLAY, I WAS BLOWN AWAY, THEY WERE perfect! BUT WAIT,, THEN I STARTED CHECKING OUT EACH MUSICIAN. THE GUITAR, WELL, HE WAS OK, THE BASS PLAYER, NOT THAT GREAT, ETC. THE MUSICIANS WERE JUST AVERAGE MUSICIANS. BUT IT SOUNDED PERFECT! I COULDN’T FIGURE THIS OUT! IT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE! AND I WAS STRAIGHT TOO! I JUST SAT THERE FROZE AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME INTO MY HEART. I NOW REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING SOUNDED PERFECT BECAUSE OF GOD’S ANOINTING OF THE EVENT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE. EVERYONE USED TO TELL ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THINGS I ENJOYED LIKE DRINKING, DRUGS, AND THE LIFESTYLE. THE TRUTH IS, I DIDN’T! THE DESIRE FOR THESE THINGS SIMPLY LEFT ME. AFTER THAT DAY, AND SOON AFTER I FOUND MYSELF OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE STAGE, AND I STARTED DRIVING A CAB HELPING ELDERLY LADIES WITH THEIR GROCERIES. SOON AFTER, AND AS THE LORD PROMISES TO EVERYONE, HE GAVE ME THE DESIRES OF MY HEART. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED MORE THAN WORDS COULD EXPRESS. EACH DAY I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT THE LORD IS GOING TO DO. PERHAPS SOMEONE READING THIS MIGHT BE FEELING A TUG IN HIS HEART WHILE HE READS, THAT TUG IS NOT MY WORDS, IT’S GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT. ASK HIM IN NOW. TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED TO ANYONE. IT’S NOT JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT YOU ARE READING THIS, IT’S A DEVINE APPOINTMENT. ASK HIM IN NOW!
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