Welcome
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That's a great story Peter. I see we cross paths a little bit.
I am also a ham (KB6DOL and KAD6554). I live to the East of you in a small town Pinon Hills which we west of Victorville near the LA/San Bernardino County line.
I began my Hammond life in 1956ish when my father brought home a spinet. I loved to listen to Myron Floren on the Lawrence Welk program play than accordian and I wanted to play like him. That Hammond had keys but they were horizontal not vertical like Myron's instrument was. The organ came with 10 free lessons my father offered them to me. I obliged him but my teacher was a retired pianist who played classical music (Bach, Beethoven, etc.). Not really cool for a 14 year old. I stuck with it.?
My father was a Naval officer and we transferred to Hawaii where I found a new teacher. She played in a bar/restaurant and played more popular standards which I liked. After two years she told my father she can't teach me anymore since I have outgrown the spinet. I need a larger Hammond. We were about to move back to San Diego and my father made a deal with the Honolulu dealer to trade in the spinet there in the islands and pick up a new C3 in San Diego. I still have that C3 today. Along the way I also picked up a spinet for old times sake.
I turned professional and was playing for recitals, weddings, and finally in nightclubs in Chula Vista and E. San Diego. That was nice but then eventually I turned to military compliments of the draft board. I joined the Navy and served in the Silent Service (submarines) on a brand new nuclear Polaris missile submarine. They don't have organs on submarines so for those years I got out of practice and never played professional again.
Later on I found the organ of my love. It is a Yamaha FX20 concert organ with 3 manuals. It has so many bells and whistles on it I still don't know all what it can do but I love playing it. Now I have 3 organs and 3 tone cabinets plus a "SideMan" in my side living room I call my organ room.
It your ever in the upper desert and want to stop by I'm easy to find.
Ed Greany -----Original Message-----
From: Peter More - WA6LBY <peter@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, Dec 21, 2022 10:56 am Subject: Re: [HammondOrgans] Welcome Hi Ed and Hammond enthusiast,
My first exposure to Hammond was the S6 Chord organ in 1959. A few years later Dad bought the M100 (see picture). ?In 1968 he bought a pre owned A101 that I¡¯ve been using. We did simple service ourselves. When Covid hit, I started to play a lot more, I call it therapy. I bought a Leslie Studio 12. ? I stumble across this group when strayed from the ham radio group. I¡¯m an electrical engineer by degree with a career in audio. ?Recently retired after ?51 years in broadcast, recording, film sound and manufacturing.? Hammond playing is all self taught and never that good at it. I found a teacher in LA and then Covid hit. Maybe I¡¯ll go back to taking lessons.?
Look forward to learning from the group.? Peter More, West Los Angeles, California.? |
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Great photo. I don't have one of my father at the organ. I wish now I did.
Ed -----Original Message-----
From: Peter More - WA6LBY <peter@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, Dec 21, 2022 10:59 am Subject: Re: [HammondOrgans] Welcome Oh, forgot the pictures. I was the eager 16 year old in Hong Kong. Dad was running the Western Electric operation.?
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Ed Greany