PRAIRIE DUST, Chapter 13
An Ocean, A World, A Universe (MUSIC, Part 8)
So Many Helpers Along the Way
James Nolan Boyts, after a successful career as a business leader, took a leave of absence to work at Hesston College.
I was aware of this at several levels, since his daughter Pam was in my senior class in Hesston High School.
She was cool- among a number of things, she drove a Beetle. I teased her mercilessly in class- mostly because she was darn cute, and I was way too shy to do much about it.
Besides tease her.
And, for some nearly incomprehensible reason as I think about it now, fifty two years later, he donated some superb equipment to the college for us young rock stars to use.
Vox guitar and bass amps. Kustom PA system. Microphones and stands and cables.
The works.
These were quality pieces of equipment we put to hard use, and probably never in a thousand years could have afforded them on our own.
We hauled these around to various gigs, stuffing them into vans and car boots, loading, unloading, driving home.
Michael “Mike” Landis
Mike was a fellow student at Hesston College, from Pennsylvania. He was also a musician, and kindly offered me the use of his bass guitar.
At the time I didn’t own any electric instruments, only my Harmony acoustic.
But the boys in the band needed a bassist and a vocalist, so there you go.
I don’t think he expected I’d use it all year (!), but I kept thinking, “Well, if he wants it or needs it back, surely he’ll let me know!”
(It was a great rationalization- I see that now.) But I kept on playing it.
And didn’t hear from him all year.
When I tracked him down at year’s end, he gave me the fish-eye, as if to say, “What the H-E-Double Toothpicks is WRONG with you!!”
Well, young, dumb, and broke, among other dubious qualities!
I quickly handed him two hundred-dollar bills I’d just been paid for our latest gig.
I think that helped clear the air between us.
Dan Bumstead, (Surfer Dan)
Dan was the first surfer dude I ever met. He was the coolest dude too, all the way from California, and I never did figure out how the heck he ended up in the middle of the prairie, at Hesston College.
He had a no-name electric guitar that withstood terrific punishment and kept on going, like the proverbial Timex watches used to do.
So when I needed an electric guitar, Dan turned it over to me without any questions or demands.
A number of us young dudes did a sort of gag version of Gary Glitter’s Rock’n Roll Part 2 for a talent show. I wore the borrowed shepherd’s robe someone had made for a Christmas pageant.
Dave, a very calm, very studious classmate roved around with his classical violin. Wild man Steve, another classmate added his vigor and voice. Wendell was on the drums.
After the ‘performance’, the only thing my girlfriend at the time could do was roll her eyes, and let out a slow breath.
What can I say? I had fun!
And I’ve mentioned Randy Zercher before.
Great guy, composer, musician, choral director. He allowed us young musicians tremendous freedom to explore and try things out.
Yet, he had discipline and skills, so our energy was well-directed and channeled.
He’d given me the opportunity to play bass with his small group first called Chamber Singers, then Agape.
Up on the ledge- Don Kulp, who was a terrific vocalist, and later drummer, Carole Hershberger- who brightened up anyone’s day, and Paul Erb, who’d been in a high school band with me, called Transient Souls.
Ernie Beachey, kneeling, front, was one of the few vocalists I knew who could pull off, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog! Was a good friend of mine!” in full voice, and sound great doing it.
And one of my experiences at Hesston College stays with me, thanks to Randy. During interterm- an intensive month stuck between fall and spring semesters, while other students were traveling the world, seeing the sights, skiing down slopes and visiting cathedrals and catching the Ballet Folklórico de México, a number of us students of more modest means stayed on campus.
Several of us took a course called “Creative Musicianship” with Randy, who allowed us to create music and perform it, sometimes improvising, sometimes recording.
A lot of fun.
That’s enough for now.
This is Mose Lee Gropin’- AKA Steve Conrad, saying sayonara!
Sometimes I'm amazed at all the turns we made in life. I guess I didn't realize you had such an extensive music career at such a young age.