Category: Music History

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Cassette Life Kennedy Drumline

Cassette Life Kennedy Drumline

Cassette Life Kennedy Drumline. This cassette tape holds a special piece of history: a recording of the Kennedy High School drumline from La Palma, California, performing at a drum competition in Bellflower. It captures the energy, precision, and camaraderie of young musicians who poured their hearts into their craft.

Cassette Life Kennedy Drumline

  • Snare Drums: Mike Hickey, Dave Peters, and myself, Ken Hada
  • Tri Toms: John Stamos
  • Berry Toms: Lee Klug
  • Congo Bongo: Mike Kemp
  • Bells: Grace
  • Cymbals: Clurie
  • Bass Drums: Agah Kahn and another drummer whose name I regretfully cannot recall.

The drumline featured a talented roster of percussionists:

This recording brings back vivid memories of the dedication and teamwork that defined our drumline. Each member played a crucial role in creating the rhythms and sounds that resonated with our audience and fueled our passion for music.

Cassette Life Kennedy Drumline

This project is a labor of love, preserving not just the sounds of the drumline but the spirit of those times. I hope this archive serves as a way to honor the talent and effort of everyone involved and to inspire others to cherish their own musical memories.

Lastly, parts of this recording inspired my song Drumline Tryouts

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Shoot The Moon, ten years of video recordings

popular shoot the moon video clip

doesn’t really represent what the band was

This is a clip from my old band named Shoot The Moon. We wrote songs, played live and lived our lives together for 10 years. For me, this clip sort of lacks what the band was actually about. Im putting it up because it is (as of this writing) the most popular video.

And speaking of video wow did we create a lot of it. I have been spending the last month transferring all of this video to youtube. A task that has resurrected many feelings both old and new. I think my generation were some of the first to have a moving picture record of our daily lives? It was a expensive thing to have a camera back in the late 1980’s. Now with each generation of smartphone being cheaper and better, everyone will have a moving-picture-record of their life. I wonder if it will as strange for my son or daughter to see 10 years of their life so many years after they lived it?

For me, it is a bit strange to see 10 years of your life on video. I sometimes wonder if this is a good or bad thing? I really loved that experience and those days are so fun to watch. But video also reminds me of how scarce time is. And so I feel guilty about looking at life as opposed to living it.

If you want to see all the Shoot The Moon video go here https://www.youtube.com/kenhada

If you want to see the official Moon website go to www.shootthemoon.com

 







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Meeting with Tony Williams in Japan

Meeting Tony Williams was a special moment in my life. Even though at the time I didnt realize how much of a force he was. As a matter of fact when I was young, I used to follow all these famous drummers. In fact I studied with Chad Wackerman. And I loved Terry Bozzio’s drumming. And thought Vinnie Colaiuta was some kind of drum diety. Well after years of playing and listening to drums I began to hear Tony’s influence in some of my drum hero’s playing.

I was lucky enough to meet Tony Williams (thanks to the dude on bass in this video, Bunny Brunel​). In fact one day while on the road with Kazumi Watanabe’s band Bunny asked John Wackerman and I if we would like to meet Tony. Of course we wanted to meet Tony! At the time we were all staying at the Keio Plaza. And Tony was in the lobby of the hotel. So we went to the lobby and there was Tony Williams! Of course Tony was kind and cordial. Unlike his We didn’t say too much to each other. But he had a depth to his presence that I have not sensed in many people. In the end I can only say that Tony still has a huge influence on me. And that to this day I try to borrow his creativity and individuality for my own art.

Tony Williams Bunny Brunel Boston
Here is a picture from the Kazumi Watanabe tour Boston. A year or so before this story.

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The Kate Bush Story

I first heard of Kate Bush by my friend Louis Oliart’s girlfriend Cathy. I named my daughter after Kate Bush. I have viewed every interview, owned every recording and yet she still remains a mystery to me.  For me she is one of this artists who stands apart from most.