Life Beyond A Day Job

 (Today's word will be in red, and bold.)


For most of us, our job is what we do to pay the bills.  A rare few are lucky enough to have their "dream job"; most of us though do our "day job", relegating our passions to the sidelines.

Then there are those, like Gene Presler, who works for The Standard.  By day Gene works for the insurance company; devoting his spare time to music.

Born in Vancouver, Washington, Gene was the middle child of nine born to Ed and Faye Presler.  Gene grew up in an atmosphere filled with music.  Most of his relatives played an instrument and everyone sang.  Some of Gene's early influences were Hank Williams, Hank Snow, The Sons of the Pioneers and the Carter Family; all favorite artists of his parents.

While living in Montana, Gene's music genre knowledge increased when his older brother introduced him to the music of artists like Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Beach Boys.  It was also during this period that Gene first heard the Beatles and was completely hooked. He wanted to be one of the Beatles; actually, he wanted to be all of them!

At the age of eighteen Gene learned to play guitar, though it wasn't until he was in his thirties that he really devoted himself to the craft. Even now he says he really only plays rhythm guitar.

For the most part Gene has sang harmony for others. When he began writing his own songs however, he also began singing them.  Over the years Gene has written more than a hundred songs, with as wide a range of musical styles as those that influenced him early on.  One of my favorites is called "That's Called Love".  It's a beautiful song, and Gene's voice enhances the beauty of the lyrics and music.

 Along with his group, the Vantucky Ramblers, Gene performs at local venues in the Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, Washington region.  One of the songs the group performs for audiences is called "If I Had To Climb Me A Mountain".  The song, heavily tinged with bluegrass, was written by Gene after a trip to Nashville.

 This is just a small post about Gene Presler and the Vantucky Ramblers.  If you like what you've read and heard, be sure to check out Gene and the band on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/public/Vantucky-Ramblers, or look them up on YouTube.

Davy Jones

In a recent post I mentioned that the only "non-real" monkeys I like is the group from the sixties, The Monkees.

I've been a fan of the group since I first saw and heard them on TV in 1966. The show was a mix of crazy gags, loose plots and music each week. To a seven year old, the silliness of the show had an attraction. At the time, the music was kind of secondary to the show, though I did find myself liking the music as well.

Even at that young age, I remember having my first "crush" on a celebrity. Davy Jones, with his cute face, and charming English accent sent pre-teen and teenage girls' hearts aflutter around the world.

In reality, The Monkees were a put together band, aimed at drawing attention away from the Beatles and the subsequent British Invasion of music. Though they were never taken as seriously as the Beatles, (having been weighed down with the "bubble gum music" moniker), The Monkees definitely made an impact in the music world.

Generations have grown up watching reruns of the show, and buying the group's music. And while members, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork have all had their adoring fans, it was Davy who always had the largest following.

As with any celebrity, you hear good and bad about any one of them. Davy is no exception. Whether the stories are true or not, I can't say. I do know that when a friend and I met Davy after a show a few years ago, he was very kind and courteous.

I feel lucky to have met Davy Jones, especially in light of today's news that Jones died in Florida, due to an apparent heart attack. He was fairly young, in retrospect to most sixties teen idols; he turned 66 years old on December 30th last year.

Davy was still performing until his untimely death; his latest, (and last), performance being in Oklahoma, February 19th.

While Jones' death will never rival say, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, or Whitney Houston, his death is newsworthy. The news media, social networks and the like, are abuzz remembering Davy Jones today, and the memories he's left to all those former teenybopper girls. And I'll admit, for 66 years old, I think Davy aged pretty well!

Rest in peace Davy, knowing you made the lives of girls everywhere a little brighter.