Baby Jesse is baptized

On Sunday, 11/27/05, the little baby Jesse (our grandson) was baptized at our church.

There was a joyous get-together following the service. We had pizza, cake, and much love among the gathering of family and friends.


Pictured from left to right:

Michelle, Jesus (the Godparents), Fr. Jim, Serena and Rocky (the parents).

May God bless you, little baby Jesse!

I was alone, until...

My wife, Cruz, and I were married in October of 1984. I knew her for four years prior to that time. Before I met her, I felt I was very alone, though I still always had the love of my family. There was something missing.

I thank God for giving me the gift of Cruz, my bride.

Here she is, several years ago, overlooking a part of Joshua Tree National Monument towards the Salton Sea (by Palm Springs).

We were visitng Key's View, a mountain top in Joshua Tree National Monument (now a National Park), wintertime in the desert of California.

--Dan

My Hero

Who is your hero?

Mine is non other than my Dad!

Here he is, around 19 years old, in the US Navy, WWII. Notice behind him, is the brand spanking new USS Iowa, one our great WWII battleships. Photo is circa 1944.

My Dad also served in Korea.

My Dad also served his family at home. Dad is 80, now, and is the greatest man I know.

He is "The Man", A-number 1.

My hero, my Dad!

--Dan

Happy Thanksgiving!

From my family to you and yours, have a wonderful week! Today, we will have a Butterball brand turkey meal. There are seven to feed here, but the baby (grandson) is on the bottle (no, not THAT bottle...it's BABY formula!).

I will probably drive up to Lytle Creek and hang out in the forest for a while with one or two of the kids. It's something of a tradition with me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

--Dan & Family

Link Wray, is another one of those special folks we call..."The Man"

Neil Young once said: "If I could go back in time and see any band, it would be Link Wray and the Raymen."

According to Wray's official website, he invented the fuzz tone by deliberately punching holes in his amplifier speakers.

In 2002, the Guitar World magazine elected Wray one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Many reports are that Pete Townshend was quite inspired by Link Wray.

Link was famous for such classics as "Rawhide".

Link has passed away, at age 76.
We will miss him.

Thank you, Link.

--Dan

My Wish List

I saw this magazine after reading something online...I believe it was Pete's Diaries (on Pete Townshend's website) or The Who section...or something. I immediately set out to order one from England. Nobody had one in my area, so off I was on international phone bills.

Well, I never got one (none were available). Darn!

I want this issue!

My wish for today (and yesterday).

--Dan

The Blues...Can we go there?

Here is Allen, and his "new" guitar. He calls it a "Les Peavey" (or less Peavey!)

Allen and I were fiddling around the garage (Sunrise Studios, mind you!) when we came upon the idea to string up an old discarded guitar. It was all about slides, the Blues, the old great Blues players and such. It was a goofy idea. The neck on that old Peavey T-30 (a strat wanna-be?) was actually sanded down almost completely flush at one time....some wild idea that Allen had about "Getting better action". What to do with that thing...that guitar was aquired in a deal that involved a new head gasket for a friend's car. Might as well take it to the next level.

That old Peavey! The frets seem like they can fall out, almost. The nut actually does! Allen had installed a different bridge way long ago, and now he decided to raise the string height (action)considerably. Oh, I should add that one of the pick-ups is broken and sinking into the guitar. Anyway, he strung up this sorry beast, plugged it into the Hot Rod Deville and...Whamo!

That thing is really cool. It's a mess, but it actually has a great, great bite. Hooray for the crazy mad scientist in us all!

Sunrise has played host to the Phoenix of guitars...risen from the ashes, the Peavey T-30 sings the Blues!

--Dan

Pete Townshend can get a lot out of a guitar!

There will be an on-going celebration of Pete Townshend here, this week. The Who, with Pete (of course), is being enshrined in the U.K. Rock Hall of Fame. This Blog will consider how to honor Pete any way that is possible.

Pete knew what's inside! He has given us sounds that we did not know were there! We love ya, Pete! Long Live Rock!

Perspective

This is what I look like while trying to understand Pete Townshend's Blog site.

Pete, look into my eyes!


--Dan

Now enshrined in the U.K. Rock Hall of Fame with "The Who', Pete Townshend is "The Man"

Does this guy look like he hears music? He certainly makes music!
Pete Townshend, The Man.

Very few get that title. Pete is one of them.

Smash yer guitar, Pete!

A Tribute to Neil Young

Once, while on "dueling guitars" with Jimmy Page, Page said to Neil something along the lines of: "You get some real sound out of that thing".

Yes, Neil young gets some real sound.

Today's tribute to another one of those guys we call, "The Man".

Studio Renovations

Allen (background) and me, Dan...as I tried to visit the studio. Renovations forced the stoppage of music this AM. The ferocious pace of activity is evident as the photo came out as a blur...something like my guitar playing!

Yes, due to popular demand, Sunrise Studios has begun it's "makeover".

--Dan

Sunrise Stands Down for a Photo-Op

Sunrise studios was open for business on Sunday, 11/6/05. After 8 hours of warmth, heat, and home cooked sizzle, we had to "stand down".

This image would not post to the "Garage" article before it on this blog, so here it is anyway- the aftermath of all that is blues, surf, Zeppelin and of course...The Who.

This is dedicated to all of the millions of fans that don't know that they are...in search of us.

--Allen, Dan and the Band

The Garage: Sunrise Studios

This is Allen, in Allen’s garage, home of Sunrise Studios. The garage door faces East…towards the rising sun…but we don’t try to play at that hour!

This is that place where the garage band (members: Allen, Dan (and sometimes Marion) known as The FonTones do their thing.

We may not be much of a band, but it sure is a heck of a garage!

On one side is our “Hallowed Wall” (I will tell Allen that I just named it). There you will find images of many Rock Legends…like Pete Townshend, The Who, The Who, and Hendrix with The Who.

Our sound consists of The Who, The Who, Creedence, Hendrix, some old blues slide stuff, The Chantays (Who, what?...Google that one…The Chantays!) and some of many others. Notice I said “some”. We are still polishing. Heck, we are only in our forties…plenty of time left!

We consist of Allen and myself (barely) on electric guitar, Allen on electric bass (borrowed Peavey played through two Kenwood stereo speakers driven by a dual tape deck – no money for a bass amp), occasional (once) keyboards, harmonica, acoustic guitars, intermittent cat meowing and Marion (cameo) on electric guitar. Oh, you should know, Allen’s bass amp is Class “W” for “What?” That is us!

On this blog you will find an image of the famous Hallowed Wall, complete with the also famous electrical outlet that provides the power for the sound that all the neighbors love until about 9:00 PM.


“Tommy, can you hear me?”

--Dan

What About the Boy?

This is Serena and Baby Jesse. They have now arrived home!

Cruz and I are now Grandparents.

What about the boy?
He was born on 11/3/05 at 3:55 PM, 7 lbs. 9 oz., 20 in. tall!



Grace to all,

--Dan