The Ventures were THE reason I started playing. I can remember thinking..."Man, if I could just master "Walk, Don't Run", I could get
ME TOO!! Hello, my name is Rick, and I am 58. Started playing guitar when I was 16. Thats 1961 for you youngsters. Not only did I play all the Ventures hits and non hits(I loved stuff that weren't hits), I played on the same bill WITH THEM 3 times in the 60's. Played with a hundred stars of the period. Learned what "sideman" means. Played pro till 1989. Semi pro till 98. Now I am concentrating on recording and building my studio. I have been very fortunate. I bought the first 1962 strat and single showman in Sacramento Ca. At 18, my band was asked to be a house band for some of the largest concerts of the time, to back up all the pathetic pop singers of the time. Talk about paying dues. I'm paid in full. I've played it all-instrumentals, rock, club rock, r&b, blues, country, light club jazz, wedding bullshit--and a lot in between. Once I saw Cream live, all other rock seemed moronic. I came across the 60 chord system when I was 30, and it changed me as a musician forever. I still pursue it, although I have discovered it is a journey, not a destination. My heros are Django, Christian, Pass etc. My mentor is Bill Conners. My fav's are Bill Evans(piano)Miles, etc and would trade my soul to the devil for a voice like John Lee Hooker. Favorite pop instrumental is still "Honky Tonk" by Bill Doggett. I still get togeather with a 45 yr best friend for our once a week listen to old tapes and laugh, play music, work on studio sessions. I have over 150 cassettes of our little get togeathers. Thats home recording. Woudn't trade them for all the CD's at tower. I post regular on the Studio Building forum as I am a CAD draftsman and builder. I am constantly modifying my little home studio and have built everything. I will play till I am dead. I just installed my second
Tascam MSR-16 and am a nats ass from being able to record up to 30 trks. I have a disease called ebosity, but it is not contageous
Here is my "woom", although it has been added to since this shitty pic was taken.
http://home.rcsis.com/beachchic/studio1.jpg>
fitz

PS. Heres an old photo taken from a CD released last year called "Young Sacramento"
We recorded in 1964 at "Bill Rase Studio", and the studio kept the old tapes of all the bands that recorded there during that period. My band was called "The Coachmen"
We were typical "british invasion" wanabes, but had lots of other influences that we used. We were the "punks" of the time.
http://home.rcsis.com/beachchic/ricksbnd.jpg Funny, huh! I am the tall guy oin your left.