Stay Tuned: An Exploration of the Local Music Scene

At the end of 2024, with retirement approaching, I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to full-on relaxation. I’d fully intended to stay busy with activities and projects I had put off as a younger guy.

One activity I wanted to resurrect was playing the trumpet. I’d played from fifth grade through my second year of college, where I also played trumpet and keyboard in a relatively decent band.

So, one of the first things I did last January was find my 45-year-old trumpet and start playing again. Where was it? The garage? Under a bed? One of my kid’s closets?
Two things happened when I reintroduced myself to the trumpet. I remembered how hard it is to learn and master a musical instrument. I also gained a huge appreciation and respect for all the people in the Stockton area who are still playing their instruments, whether in concert bands, wineries or restaurants. After much brushing up, I joined the Stockton Concert Band, where I have met many accomplished musicians. Our next performance is March 3, 2026, at Delta College and it’s free! I hope you’ll come out and enjoy some fine music.

Back to the part about staying busy. I’ve signed on with HERLIFE Magazine to write stories about the local music scene. This article is the first, which is about me, my interest and my intentions. I’ll introduce you to people and places in San Joaquin County that illustrate what a great time it is for people to play, as well as venues to listen to music.

You might remember me from my days at News10. I reported on this region for 25 years and it was always a treat to depart from reporting on daily events and issues to tell feature stories, especially music stories.

From the beginning of my career, I’ve reported on musicians across all genres. In El Paso, Texas, I profiled Huey Lewis and his band just as their wildly successful career was taking off. Moving on to Tucson, Arizona, I was in awe as I interviewed jazz legends Pat Metheny and Dizzy Gillespie. During these early years, I also learned the importance of doing my homework when a prickly John Fogerty made it clear he wasn’t impressed with my questions about his legal issues.

I covered rappers RUN DMC and the Beastie Boys, plus local band Quarterflash (“Harden My Heart”), who allowed us to videotape them recording what they hoped would be a comeback album. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. And Donny Osmond would have preferred I used some word other than comeback when describing his late ’80s return to the charts.

One memorable story involved Smashmouth keyboardist and then-Stockton resident Michael Klooster, who welcomed us into his home studio as he produced tunes for a small local band. Other memories include Chicago trumpet player Lee Loughnane, who stopped in for an interview. That became a news feature about Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire using the Stockton Arena to rehearse for an upcoming tour. We had two legendary bands here, practicing and playing for a week—and no one got to hear any of it.

When Tower of Power retiree Mic Gillette returned to a Lodi recording studio for a solo album, he patiently put up with my dozens of questions as to why he left the tightest and funkiest (sorry, a bit biased) soul band ever. He just wanted to be home for his young daughter instead of going out on tour again.

It’s probably clear by now that I get jazzed from this stuff. That’s why I intend to write about how local music is made and where it’s being performed. I’m anxious to introduce readers to the fabulous and dedicated musicians who live and work all around us and entertain every chance they get.

I am always looking for new and exciting gigs to showcase musicians in our community who deserve recognition. Stay tuned!
Feel free to reach out: tim@dalyvideoservices.com.