Throughout
my life I’ve had a few jobs. Okay, I’ve had a lot of jobs. I blame this restless behavior on my Hungarian roots. I have gypsy blood in me. But, there is one job that stands out from all
of the rest. I must say, it was the
hippest - the coolest and most interesting job I’ve ever had!
Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time.
I
was living in the Bay Area (Cupertino) where I graduated from high
school and had been playing bass guitar in a few different garage bands. Somehow I discovered that Guitar
Player Magazine was published right there in that silicon suburb so I went down to their office on Stevens Creek and applied for a job. And miraculously I was hired!
I
started out as the receptionist for G.P.I.
Publications. Three magazines were
published under its wing: FRETS, KEYBOARD and GUITAR PLAYER. I was nervous as hell answering those
phones. I remember once when several
lines lit up at once instead of saying, “GPI
Publications, may I help you?”, I said, “GPI Publications, may I hold
you?”
Not
too long after working in that position another one opened up in the Guitar Player office. It was for the
Office Coordinator post and I knew that I didn't have the experience nor the
confidence to land that job but somehow I mustered up the courage to apply. To
my amazement I got the job and suddenly I found myself in the midst of the
coolest folks I’d ever had the privilege of working with!
Of
course, I didn’t realize it at the time.
I
spent my days transcribing interviews with amazing guitarists like Eric Clapton
and The Edge from U2. I was treated like family by Editor Tom Wheeler and his staff, Jas Obrecht, Tom Mulhern, Jim Ferguson, Dan Forte and Art Director,
Peggy Shea. It was an amazing experience
and an incredible place to work! But as
much as I loved it there I couldn’t help but feel that my dream job was to be
an actual working musician and not one behind the scenes. (This need for attention and craving the
spotlight I blame on being the youngest in my family.)
So, I moved to L.A. to try my hand at making a career out of playing music. And can you believe – some thirty years later I’m still trying to make that crazy dream a reality?! Oh, I’ve had run-ins with success and near misses. I’ve had a taste of fame. I’ve stood next to it on stage, or behind it... But, if I’ve learned one thing during these humbling and interesting years it’s that you have to make the journey the destination - because odds are I will never reach the final destination that I once thought was so important.
So, I moved to L.A. to try my hand at making a career out of playing music. And can you believe – some thirty years later I’m still trying to make that crazy dream a reality?! Oh, I’ve had run-ins with success and near misses. I’ve had a taste of fame. I’ve stood next to it on stage, or behind it... But, if I’ve learned one thing during these humbling and interesting years it’s that you have to make the journey the destination - because odds are I will never reach the final destination that I once thought was so important.
In
the mean time I’m grateful for the incredible people I’ve met along the way. My 'work family' at Guitar Player Magazine is
certainly right there at the top of the list of amazing people I've come to know during my life's journey. I was one lucky gal to have had
that opportunity!
And, yes... of
course, I didn’t realize it at the time…
I’m
also grateful to Mark Zuckerberg. If it
weren’t for his company Facebook, I
would’ve lost touch with many old friends and work-mates. Last year when I received a Facebook message from Dara
Crockett (daughter of Jim Crockett, the publisher of GPI Publications) she told
me that she and her father were writing a book about the Glory Days at Guitar
Player Magazine. She asked me if I
might want to consider contributing with a story or photographs. Being the blabbermouth that I am I jumped at
the chance!
After reconnecting with Dara and Jim Crockett I soon discovered that Jim and his wife Bobby and
I are neighbors! (Well, almost.) For
the past ten years or so we’ve been living not more than thirty miles away from
one another. We've since become
friends and I even helped him crack the e-book code recently. His memoir, Experiencing the Great Whites and Other Interesting Times is now available at Amazon.com. It’s filled with some outrageous storytelling which makes me wonder how this man is still alive! I hope you'll take the time to read it. Here’s the link.
The Guitar Player book is available now too. In fact it arrived in my mail box yesterday and it is filled with great stuff – interviews with many famous and talented guitar players like Craig Chaquico, Steve Morse, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Steve Howe, Pat Travers, Stanley Clarke and Eric Johnson just to name a few, as they look back at how Guitar Player Magazine shaped their careers. There are also some funny and poignant stories from staff members and advertisers along with never before seen photos. I realize that I may be biased, but I think that this book is a must read for any guitar player, or dedicated fans of guitar players!
Here’s the link for Guitar Player - The Inside Story of the First Two Decades…
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| Jim Crockett & J-9 - 2014 |
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| J-9 & Jas Obrecht - 1986 - photo by Jon Sievert |
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| Dan Forte & J-9 - 1986 - photo by Jon Sievert |
