Having been born on the early 50’s, I was just reaching my pre-teens right about the time of the “British Invasion” in the early 60’s……….. I’ve been “hooked” on music ever since (not an uncommon scenario for a “boomer” by any means).
I started playing drums in about ’62, going the classic route of various basement/garage bands when I could. Jumping forward to ’71 (after a number of “just getting by” years in school, largely due to my one-track-mind of music. Hey, it was the 60’s!), I finally decided to attend an electronics trade school in Chicago.
After taking a 2-year course, I was fortunate enough to find a “dream job” (?!?), working at an electronics shop [in Chicago] specializing in pro-audio. I immediately became infatuated with vacuum tube gear, while simultaneously tampering more and more with guitars & basses (as well as staying with my drumming interests).
In the course of the next 10 years, the shop I worked at grew into a major service and parts facility, also spawning a “sister” sound company that toured with a number of big name artists. Over this time, I serviced amps for many well known (and many not so well known) local, national, and international acts such as: Styx, Cheap Trick, the Who, BB King, Prince, Kansas……just to name a few (I’ve probably forgotten more than I can remember).