Special Guest Days

... No, the stand-up bass above does not wear cowboy boots. That's actually Mr. Darryl Cornell. Mr. Cornell is a retired teacher from the Salinas City School District. Mr. Cornell spent many years in the regular classroom teaching a variety of grade levels. He even had a stint of three years as a Music Teacher in our district. Mr. Cornell plays a number of instruments. His favorite is the guitar, but on this day, Mr. Cornell joined Mr. Rossi and Mr. Griffin on a really cool instrument. He called it many names; the upright bass, the stand-up bass, the bass viol, the double bass, or "the dog house." Not only did Mr. Cornell give a lesson on the instrument, he also told the kids about his beginnings as a musician. He told the students that it all started on Sunday night, February 9, 1964. He was in the fourth grade and it was the night that the Beatles first performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was all the inspiration he needed to get started ...

... Mr. Brusa was our Special Guest on March 2nd. Mr. Brusa, a retired teacher in our district, brought in his case of harmonicas. Mr. Rossi and Mr. Griffin capitalized on Mr. Brusa's expertise and passion for the Blues. The lesson for the day included the 12 Bar Blues, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Country Blues, Slide Guitar, Rhythm and Blues, Big Mama Thorton, Little Richard, Elvis, the Birth of Rock n' Roll, the Electric Bass, Boogie Woogie, Harmonica, and Cross Harp. Mr. Brusa told the kids that he became interested in Music at the age of 13, right after he saw Muddy Waters for the first time. The next day he went down to Gadsby's Music Store in Salinas and bought his first harmonica. He says it took him about a year to really get a good grasp of the instrument. He's still an avid Blues fan, and even recently returned from a Blues Cruise in the Caribbean. He told the kids that there were about 50 Blues bands on the cruise and he loved every minute of it! And finally, Mr. Brusa told the kids that not only did he teach at Kammann for many years, he actually attended Kammann as a student from Kinder thru 6th Grade ...

... Mr. Manny Rivas was our Special Guest on March 8th. Mr. Rivas brought in his drum kit. After Mr. Rossi, Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Rivas warmed up with a few songs that the students had been learning all week, Mr. Rivas told the kids that he became interested in playing drums at the age of 16. Mr. Rivas was working at Wise Music in Salinas at the time. While working there, one of his duties was putting together drum kits. He became very interested in the instrument. He took a few lessons and then continued exploring the instrument. 12 years later he continues to grow as a drummer and a musician. His latest gig (since October) is playing drums in Mr. Griffin's band, The Lightfighters. Mr. Rivas also demonstrated all the different drums in his drum kit. Mr. Rossi narrated the basic beat that a beginning drum student will learn, while Mr. Rivas demonstrated. Mr. Rivas told the kids that it takes practice to teach your left foot, your right foot, your left hand, and your right hand to work independently, but at the same time. He told them that it takes work, but it's worth it in the end. It was a great lesson. Mr. Rossi, Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Rivas also jammed a bit on Roadhouse Blues, Peggy Sue, Johnny B. Goode, as well as, all the other songs that the students had been learning all week. Thanks you, Mr. Rivas ...

... Mr. Anthony Lane was our Special Guest on April 5th. Mr. Lane brought in his guitar and his big opera voice. After Mr. Rossi, Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Lane warmed up with a few songs that the students had been learning all week, Mr. Lane told the kids that he began taking voice lessons at the age of 7 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. By the time he was 10 years old, he was already fronting a band that was playing in the clubs. In order to work in the clubs, Mr. Anthony had to have permission from his parents, keep up with his school work, and promise to be a good boy. Mr. Anthony also told the kids that he spent 18 years touring with his band "Foreign Exchange" in Canada, the US, and even Europe. He moved to Monterey in 1989 with his brother Frankie and they bought their own club on Cannery Row. Mr. Anthony currently owns the Fox Theater in Downtown Salinas. He's even donating the use of his theater for a May 23rd Concert with Mr. Rossi, Mr. Griffin, and some of our Salinas City Schools' students. Mr. Anthony also told the kids a story about the first time he sang Opera style for his dad. They were driving from Monterey to San Francisco. He says that his dad loved the singing so much that he made Mr. Anthony sing Opera all the way up to San Francisco. Mr. Anthony says that by the time they reached San Francisco he had lost most of his voice. Mr. Anthony and Mr. Rossi play in Mr. Anthony's Italian Band together. They play Italian Festivals all over the country ... One of the day's best moments was when Mr. Anthony belted out a version of "O Sole Mio!" It was another great Special Guest Wednesday. Thanks you, Mr. Anthony ...