It’s a VERY snowy day here in Pittsburgh, the Saturday before Christmas.
But, not being “put-off” by the inches under his boots, “Georgie” made his way down the steep hill of Washington Street near where he and his parents made their home since moving to Etna from the community of Millvale at the “entrance” to P’Burgh’s North Hills Region.
As he slogged his way through the snow and areas of ice, his thoughts were completely overtaken by the DREAM of visiting PETTEY MUSIC STORE on Liberty Street in P’Burgh’s downtown section. His TRUE vision, and hope, was once inside the music store, to be permitted to “try-out” a few of the incredible guitars ensconced in the store’s display.
You see, Georgie’s plan for his future was to pursue his DREAM of becoming a professional musician…a GUITAR PLAYER! However…to date, all of his lessons and experience had been fostered upon a guitar which his parents had rented from his guitar/music teacher.
After what was less than 4 months of guitar lessons, the teacher voiced his opinions to Georgie’s Mom and Dad.
“Your son has a TRUE GIFT. I have never experienced a person of his age, or any age, who has the talent for playing the guitar as he does. There is NOTHING more that he can learn from me. He is far beyond my teachings. I suggest that you pursue yet another teacher for him…AND, I MORE than suggest that his Future ties in within the realm of his guitar-playing capabilities.”
SO…the first step in following these suggestions, was for Georgie to obtain his very own guitar. Hence, he trudged down Washington Street…boarded an Etna bus, which would (eventually) transport him to downtown, immediately near the Pettey Music Store.
AND, after what seemed as an ETERNITY, the adolescent future musician found himself gazing into front windows of Pettey’s.
Slowly (yeah, RIGHT!) he opened the front door….entered the store…and was ENTIRELY overcome by what he observed!
WOW!!!
There they were…displayed upon the store’s walls….standing upright in the many display cases which skirted every wall of the store…the ANGELS of his DREAMS!!!
GRETSCH…HARMONY…GUILD…EPIPHONE…MARTIN…and, MORE!!! They were all there, each in its exquisite glory.
But…then, as his eyes scanned the walls and their inhabitants, his gaze halted.
There it was…the most incredible Dream he could EVER imagine: a 1962 FENDER STRATOCASTER! His heart skipped MANY beats. He was totally awestruck!!!
CAN I HELP YOU?
As Georgie stood before the Face of Guitar Excellence, a voice behind him gently questioned him.
Georgie: “I’m sorry. I was just looking around.”
The Voice: “Do you play the Guitar?’
Georgie: “Yeah, a little bit; but I don’t have a Guitar of my own. I wish I had one of those…one of the Fenders in the display case.”
The Voice: “Well, if you want to hang around and take off your hat and coat, I’ll take the Fender from the case ….so that you can try it out.”
AND, SO IT HAPPENED
After playing for more than an hour, and attracting the attention of all the many patrons visiting the store that day, the young musician was, once again approached by the person who had placed the Fender into his hands.
The young gentleman introduced himself as Tommy Buckle, the on-site salesperson/guitar player/repairperson/and, ex-Army Service-man. Tommy inquired as to the young player’s name…the reply, ”GEORGE “( Georgie was long-gone!).
The store’s manager also approached, and, believe it or not, invited George to visit Pettey’s Music Store whenever he wished…and, of course, he was welcome to entertain the visitors with his Guitar playing.
George was, again, totally overcome with the invitation.
TIME PASSAGES
That Christmas, George’s parents surprised him with the gift of his first Guitar…a hollowbody Harmony Guitar. He loved it, and cherished it for many, many years.
Then, as 1962 faded-away, and the following years of ’63, ‘64’ and ‘65 melted into one another, the young guitar player DID visit the music store…every Saturday, nearly every day after school…and (don’t tell anybody) sometimes DURING school hours!
Eventually, the store manager “hired” him as Tommy’s assistant.
During that Time, George assisted with repairing MANY Guitars, including one owned by BO DIDDLEY (yep, the famous musician actually shook hands with George), as well as Pittsburgh’s famous Guitarist, Mr. JOE NEGRI!
In the Autumn of 1965, George was again approached…this time by a regional Manager, and was invited to become the lead guitar player for one of the city’s most promising groups: THE SHADOWS.
Of course, the invitation was immediately accepted…and the young Guitar player’s musical career was “off and running!”
BUT, THEN
Mom and Dad had a totally different Dream and Vision for their son’s Future.
George would pursue a career in the field of Medicine. Their “intention” became insistence. And, before he knew it, the career as a musician was something NEVER to be attained…but, eventually, Medicine was eventually replaced with the pursuit of becoming an Educator. This eventually led George to years on the East Coast…and, the abandonment of his Guitars, amplifiers, records, tapes, etc. ALL these sacred objects gradually left his grasp entirely.
A GIFT OF HOPE
Upon meeting his Future Bride, Carolyn, in the early’80’s, the tale of his Musical Journey was revealed.
Knowing George had no Guitar, she, unexpectedly, arranged a trip…unknown to her soon-to-be husband, Carolyn planned to place into George’s Life another Dream…a new Guitar. BUT, not just ANY guitar, but a classic Guild Guitar, along with a brand new Ampeg amplifier.
The Dream became Reality.
Over the succeeding years, two additional Guitars were Gifted by his Wife. However, the TRUE ESSENCE of his deepest Vision came true…an exact replica of a Fender 1962 Stratocaster, the Guitar which “Georgie” first played all those years ago at Pettey’s.
JULY 2018
As most folks know, EVERYTHING changed.
Among those changes was the “emotional,” yet unplanned, cessation of many pursuits, including that of playing the Guitar.
JUST THE OTHER DAY
AS I was scanning over the Facebook posts of the evening, my Heart and Spirit became completely broken by the Passing of one of my, and many individual’s, Heroes of Music…EDDIE VAN HALEN.
A “Hero?” Yep, to any Guitar Player, Eddie will ALWAYS retain that evaluation.
BUT, to me, he is even MORE than that.
Despite his many years-long battle with both lung and throat cancer, he NEVER stopped Believing…he NEVER stopped Dreaming…and he NEVER, NEVER stopped sharing his talents with the entire PLANET!
What does his FORTITUDE mean to me?
It means this: If HE can do it, so can I…so can YOU!
What I, you, and each one of us needs is to BELIEVE…to hold fast to our Dreams. This Journey leads us onto the Pathway of Success for ourselves, and for our World.
Thank you, EDDIE VAN HALEN! Your words and actions will live in my Heart, my Spirit, and my Actions FOREVER!
DREAM
(by Van Halen)
We’ll get higher and higher
Straight up we’ll climb
Higher and higher leave
it all behind
Oh we’ll go higher and higher
who knows
What we’ll find
So baby dry your eyes, save all
The tears you’ve cried
Oh that’s what Dreams
are made of
Oh baby we belong in a World that must be strong
Oh that’s what Dreams
are made of
And in the end on Dreams
we will depend
‘Cause that’s what Love
is made of
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