MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH JUNE 2010    

John Slay

MUSICAL BACKGROUND & MUSICAL GROUPS: I began taking piano and voice lessons when I was 5 years old . I sang in church youth choirs and played and sang in “recitals” for many years . We never owned a piano, so I practiced on the church (Southern Baptist ) piano where ever we lived . Churches were not locked ” way back then”. 

Somewhere, I bought a set of drums and mostly taught myself to play, because someone told me ” the drummer gets all the girls “!  My first ” pay gig ” was with a country band at the American Legion in Pine Bluff , Arkansas every Saturday night.  I was 13 years old and was paid $8.00 a night. I continued to play in various dance bands during my youth and use that as an excuse why I do not know how to dance — except for ” rock & roll ” music, which only requires that I jump around in a poor imitation of a prehistoric cave dweller ! 

I played trombone in Jr. High, but changed to drums in the 9th grade. Of course, I played in the high school band  I was also First Chair Snare Drummer in Arkansas Allstate Band in my Jr. and Sr. year.  After high school , I joined the Air Force.  After a year in a ” field ” band  at Barkdale AFB , La. , I was accepted in the Air Force Academy Band in  Colorado Springs , CO . Quite an assignment for a 19 year old “kid” from  Arkansas! 

After eight years of active duty, I left the Air Force and began studies in Anthropology/Archaeology at the U. of Colorado. During my years  at the U. of Colorado, I played in many bands in the Denver/Boulder area . None that were famous, but it paid the bills !  After completing my M.A., I took a job as an archaeologist for the U.S.  Forest Service . I worked in South Dakota , Arkansas and Colorado in this capacity.  During my Forest Service assignment in Arkansas, I joined the Arkansas Army National Guard and was a percussionist with the 106st Army Band.  . In 1987, my Forest Service job moved me to Colorado and I joined the 101st  Army Band ( Colorado Army National Guard ) . 

After two years , I was offered a  promotion through the Wyoming Army National Guard and transferred to the 67th Army Band in Cheyenne , WY … where I served as the Band Commander and the  First Sgt.  I was officially retired  as a Master Sgt. from the Army in 1998 .    My duties with the Army National Guard ( part-time ) were performed at the same time that I worked full-time for the Forest Service, from which I retired in 1995 . I mention this because people sometimes get  confused about this .   

Somewhere in all this , I played in community bands in Custer , SD and  Russellville , AR and Ft. Collins , CO and , finally in the Grand Junction Centinnial Band . I have also played in various clubs here in Grand Junction  –  Moose , VFW , Boomer’s … but stopped this about a year ago , because I am  now too lazy ( old ? ) to be constantly moving and setting up my drums !  I have played drums and percussion during the Unity musical performances for  nearly a year . 

Performing with Diane West and the Unity Singers helps me to  feel more a part of the church and gives me a special feeling that I am  contributing to the Sunday services . I am pleased that many church members  have complimented me and have said that I create some special effects and bring  an added dimension to the music at Unity .  I hope to be able to continue to perform at Unity , as long as I am able to blend in with the performances and add to the quality and mood of the music . I always enjoy performing with Diane West ; she has that special beat and lilt  to her music that makes it fun to add a few , selected percussion ” rifts ” ,  as well a solid blend of the sounds and rhythmic beats of a drum kit . I especially enjoy the music when Diane and I are joined by Rev.Doug on guitar  and Bev Jackson on bass! 

I also want to say a special ” Thank You ” to Diane ; it was she that  searched me out and invited me to begin playing drums and percussion at the  Unity of Grand Junction .

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