Waiting on GOD...

Hi Music lovers and friends,  I want to update you on my health and what GOD is placing on my heart to do musicially...My health has been an issue in trying to do what GOD has called me to do, play music for Him.  I didn't always play for Him but eventually came into relationship with the Lord and now have a yearning to record and play for His glory.

My wife and I have a band called "Mannawar" that has been dormant.  But we want to resurrect the band and start playing live and recording.  My vision has been suspect, not being able to see, as a result of diabetes.  I can use your prayers, thank you.  My wife is going to be 'my eyes" in everything and I will be the "the ears" and will fulfill what GOD has called us to do.  Thanks for all your support.  Stay tuned....

Comments from "old' friends...

Sorry all, I have not been timely in posting on this blog, have had health issues.  Also thank you old time friends for your gracious comments.  Yes, I am still around and working on my health to restore it.  Will be in contact with every comment author soon.  Thank you and be blessed, Dave

An Over-comer...Cole Fonseca

Cole was born December 13, 1982, on Friday the in Visalia, CA. He was named after his great-great uncle on his mother's side, Cole Younger, a famous outlaw. I found out that prior to that, Cole Younger was a bushwhacker involved in guerrilla warfare for the Confederate Army. Cole Fonseca was raised in the small, rural town of Woodlake, CA about 20 minutes outside of Visalia. His mother's family had been a part of the town for about 120 years.

His father's original business was as a farm equipment auctioneer He was always active in the church and got started doing Christian Concert Promoting, putting on concerts for the youth. Now Cole's father is a world-wide minister.

His father's involvement with Christian Concert Promoting is what got Cole started on music. Cole wanted a guitar, but harmonica was the first instrument at the age of 7, and was introduced to the blues when he got a hold of a cassette tape called The Blues Night featuring some great Christian Blues Artists, Darrell Mansfield, Glenn Kaiser, and Larry Howard (hopefully we will be doing stories on these great players). Due to no secular music in the house, he devoured this tape. After hearing the great licks Darrell Mansfield was playing on the harp, Cole got inspired and as he said, I was playing the blues...playing the snot out of it." He later went on to playing drums in church at 12 years of age.

At 14, Cole went to Nashville to stay with some of his father's friends. Cole's foster dad in Nashville had invented the Fiber Optic Slicer and was a very wealthy man with a passion for music, owning the biggest recording studios in Nashville. This is where he met Pat MacDonald (Charlie Daniels Band) and blues guitarist, Chris Anderson (formerly of the Blackhawks and now with the Outlaws).

He attended a song writing school in Nashville where he was mentored by the great Nashville songwriter, John Hiatt. He also had the opportunity to meet and study with Pat MacDonald a great musician who drums for the Charlie Daniels Band. At the time Cole had a drum background but Pat saw something more in Cole. He picked up a guitar at 17 and 2 years later that was it and it became his main instrument. He experimented with Jimi Hendrix, Howlin' Wolf, and early George Thorogood. He put a slide on his finger and as he said "it fit."

He started getting into Charlie Patton and Bukka White which took him to a new place. He decided not to be a copycat and found his own voice, his own style and created his own signature sound.

Getting a hold of his mother, whom he hadn't seen for 6 years, Cole came back to Visalia and hooked up with Frank Alsing, who was married to his mom's best friend. Frank was playing in a country band and at the request of his mom, Frank became Cole's first drummer.

When I first met Cole a few years back, we were at the Main Street Inn in Ripon, CA...rippin' it up. Cole's drummer, Frank Alsing, and I had history. We had played in a band called Stagecoach around '78. We had a great time playing, sort of feeding off each others playing. He gave me one of his CD's and it was great. Interesting side note: he told me that the hotlel he ended up staying at in Ripon was the worst hotel he ever stayed at with a light barely hanging onto the ceiling with a string and paperclip to turn off and on not to mention the toilet seat the was only half there...

Not long after that I was talking with Frank and he told me of the tragic accident Cole was in. Cole told me of the accident. He said he woke up in a body bag. He hadn't had a pulse for 10 minutes so they thought he was dead. Cole thought he was dead as well. The accident happened so fast and he didn't know where he was...only that it was dark. He started screaming because he was in complete pain, his body was trashed and mangled. The accident happened about 7 years ago and every day is a recovery from the effects of what he went through. To this day he lives in a lot of excruciating pain due to the neuropathic pains that can become so hard to bear.

Recently Cole won the finals at the King of the Blues Contest at the Guitar Center in Visalia. In relaying what happened at the finals, they picked straws and as it would happen, he ended up going first. One of the judges was late and didn't see him perform. There was a kid there that originally won who was a student of the judge that didn't see Cole play. The crowd wasn't pleased and because the judge that wasn't there "voted" on Cole's performance, Cole asked him how he could judge him. The judge said he had seen Cole perform before 4 years ago when Cole wasn't even playing guitar. You can't judge on someone's past performance so they had a runoff, a sudden death that Cole won by a landslide. As Cole said when we are doing something for GOD, the enemy uses people to attack you. So now he moves onto the next level. I believe he will do well.

His current band is called Cole Foncesa and the Phoenix Jubilee. Cole is on guitar, harp, and vocals. Hw talks about the current band as the best band he has ever had and that he has always had good players, but these are the best. He talks about them as part of a great team that works really well together and that they play his music better than anyone has. On bass is Matt Molten who has been with him the longest, about 4 years. They have been across the country together and he refers to Matt as his right hand man; they have been through a lot together. On guitar is Richie Blue, who has been with him about 2 ½ years. Richie has played with Boz Scaggs and many other major artists, as well as session work for Capitol Records. His drummer's name is Anthony Delgado who's been in the band for about a year.

He met his guitar player, Richie Blue playing in a cover band, a southern rock band that was contracted at a casino. The singer, who was a guitar player as well, was real difficult to deal with. Cole was playing harp as a side man in the band. The casino was paying the band more than the singer was telling the band so he was pocketing the difference. The band found out about it and wanted to replace him and do more original music. They wanted Cole to sing and be the front man for the band. But Cole stuck up for the guy ever though he was ripping the band members off. Out of jealousy the singer fired Cole out of the band at Christmas time, hurting both the bills and the presents Cole wanted to get his family. At the time this had happened, Cole was close friends with this singer and had lent him his first and main Stratocaster even teaching this guy how to play slide guitar. So after this singer fired him, Cole wanted his guitar back and the guy said, " Well maybe".

Cole told him no he only lent the guitar to him and wanted it back. The singer said he would think about it and maybe he'd give it back to him. So he went to the casino with his brother because the guy said he had Cole's guitar there. So Cole opened up the case and was horrified at what he saw. The strings were ripped off and left on the guitar and this jerk had cracked the guitar down the middle. Cole had tears running down his face. This so called friend added insult to injury when he told Cole, "How do you like that you cripple? You'll never play guitar again, How do you like that?"

Cole's brother ended up going to jail that night...if I was Cole's brother that night, I would have gone to jail as well. This was the main reason Cole decided to play guitar again. It may have started in anger, but I like the results. He has proved that singer to be wrong...very wrong.

The band hasn't done much touring, but they will be playing at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival and will be going to New York this year.

Another great venue they will be playing at will be the Blues And Bones Festival in Angel's Camp. There will be some great acts and a bbq competition...music and food in Angel's Camp...does it get any better?!? Here is their link: http://bluesandbones.com/

Rolling Stone Magazine has put together an interview and pictures for July or August edition. The way this came about was by a friend of Cole's who passed away a couple weeks ago. He was entertainment lawyer, Kirk Keys, from Three Rivers who was a fan of Cole's for about 12 years. He sent the Lazarus Video and a nice booklet that explains Cole's story with pictures of the accident, his studio CD the Phoenix and his new CD Lazarus livev and they were totally taken back by Cole's story and wanted to do a two paragraph story on him that will be in the back of the magazine. Cole is humbled by the expose as not a national blues artist.

As for tone and style on the harp, he gives Darrell Mansfield the credit. Darrell is a great influence for any harp player. He plays the harp like an instrument and gets more mileage on a harp than any other player I have heard. The last time Cole played with Darrell was in 2007. Doesn't know if Darrell is aware that he is playing guitar again.

He feels he is playing slide better now than he did. Cole is a very unique player. He told me Ron Thompson is his mentor on slide and that he is one of Ron's biggest fans. Slide is favorite and he said that Maxx Cabello Jr. plays slide on his lap as well. After the "singer incident", he went in the garage and woodsheded for awhile. He had a couple of ideas. He even thought about playing with his feet. He settled for what was natural and put the slide on his thumb. He uses his finger to pick and add other notes on the neck.

He's shared the stage with many greats like B.B. King, got his name in the official Blues Hall of Fame, and he's got a plaque of him in the State Capitol Building. He has overcome so much adversity yet doors are still slammed in his face. He has sent his material to all the record companies, but they seem to think he is "over the top"...and what's wrong with that? He would like to record with ATL Records where all his favorite artists are. His main goals are to touch people with his music and his faith and to provide for his family.

He gave me a homework assignment to see the song Lazarus. He told me this was the first time they performed the song live and what we hear for the words, he made up on the spot. As he said it was like GOD was singing through him, He told me the song was anointed and I must agree...it had me in tears, and choking up every time we talked about it throughout the interview.

Truly talented people are overcomers. To survive the accident and find a way to play great guitar and to sing and play harp at the great level he performs at is a tribute to his faith and knowing who he is in GOD. He feels he is touching people and GOD is working through him...I can't agree more.

Videos:

Lazarus song

http://youtu.be/gFE4gdc-UX0

Black Widow before the accident the Cole I played with

http://youtu.be/PLv2yrnpRmw

Blues, blues, blues...yeah, we do Blues!!

Hi All, 

Recently I have been working with a Blues magazine, Blues-e-News, which 

is available free to all readers.  I wrote a story about my old friend, Allen Vega. 

He is an accomplished musician that is known in the Bay Area of northern CA, for 

his 'tasty' style of playing. I would like to share his story with you, read on... 

 "Allen "Ace" Vega by Dave Wiita-Hamlett


 Allen was born, 1967, and raised in Oakland, California or as it is
affectionately called, "Oak-town".  Also a part of the East Bay of the
San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland contributed its share of great
musicians from the wealth of music that still comes from the SF Bay.
 One of the bands that left its mark in the 1970's was Graham Central
Station founded by Larry Graham, the bass player for Sly and the
Family Stone and the creator of the funk-slap bass.  The great guitar
player from Graham Central Station was David "Dynamite" Vega, whom we
lost sadly in 2007.  David is Allen's uncle and proves that this
family is blessed with the gift of music.  I met David at a party
where we jammed together.  He was so incredible back then, my A game
wouldn't have worked...I had to bring my A+ game to play with David
Vega and I definitely grew some in my playing that night.
 Recently David Vega was inducted into the West Coast Blues Hall of
Fame and Allen was asked and went to accept the award for his uncle, a
well-deserved honor for a truly great player...." 

(to read the rest of this story, click here and turn to page 20.  I believe you'll 

enjoy the end of the story and the magazine. Please leave me a comment of 

your thoughts...) 

What's happened to Krazy Dave?

Greetings Music Lovers,

Many have asked, "What's happened to Krazy Dave and why is this blog not updated?" Well, I am here to answer that question and update you on upcoming events.

My name is Sue Hamlett. Some call me Mrs. Krazy, some call me Mrs. DOG (Dave On Guitar). First off, I want to update you on KD's whereabouts and why this blog has not been kept updated. He is fine (no health problems) but he has been busy with his music students and making his very own CD. We were hoping the CD would have been finished for the new year. However, we had a personal challenge where we had to move so it took up much time where KD could not spend time with his CD or blogging, which he loves to do...anything that has to do with music he loves.

We both have a project that we want to fulfill...personalized online guitar / bass lessons. I have done a lot of research in that area and have found online guitar / bass lessons but they are not personalized. Some offer subscriptions to their online music library--unlimited lessons for X amount of $$$. Their prices are reasonable (with the subscription) but nothing offered for personalized lessons. KD loves teaching his music students and wants to offer personalized instruction online with the student's preferred music genre. Plus get the student playing within a month.

We are playing with the idea of advertising a free lesson on this blog once a month, along with a hyperlink to the New Music Lesson Site. Does this sound like something you all would be interested in? Please comment and make suggestions regarding this here. Provide us a way to contact you back so we can further discuss your ideas and suggestions. Your Comments, Ideas and Suggestions are very important to both of us and we look forward to hearing back from you.

Everyone-Let's ROCKKKK in 2012.

Hi Fellow Musicians and Friends

Yeah, I know...I haven't been on the blog for several months...please accept my apology. I have been battling illness plus financial woes...boy, it has not been fun. However, I would like to share with you today...

I put together a Jam Night up here in Mariposa, CA. I am honored to play with two magnificent musicians. Our bassist, Mike Simpson, has been playing music for over 25 years. He is a very accomplished musician with various genres and styles under his belt. Our percussionist, Austin Ritenmour, also is an accomplished musician with a classical background. And, Austin is part of the Mariposa Symphony.

We have a great time playing as we get together on the first Tuesday of each month. Our locals come out to share their musical talent with all. We just have a great time. Also, my wife and I take the opportunity to share Christ with everyone we can. If you're ever in the Mariposa, CA area, please stop by to see us. First Tuesday of the month @ The Miner's Inn Lounge, located @ Highway 140 & Highway 49 North. Hope to see you there jammin'.

I have updated my blog with some of my music. Take a listen! I plan to be more diligent with my posts. I appreciate my readers and want to continue sharing my music rants with y'all. lol

Bye 4 now...

James Perley…Power Drummer

Recently I attended the memorial for a close friend and musical brother, James Perley. James passed away on April 30th, 2009 at the age of 46. His band has pics and thoughts on their site, myspace.com/keepyouhanzoff. There you can see the impressive history of this band and what great things they did, who they opened for, etc…

As I was walking through the church parking lot, I started to pass an older man, and slowed to ask him if he was there for the funeral/memorial. He said yes. I asked if he was part of the family, and he replied no…he knew James from his law practice. It struck me just how diversified an age group and cross reference of people James affected. When we got up to the front of the church, there was a long line of people waiting to get in. You saw families, lawyers and professional people in their business suits and a number of musicians dressed a little less formally. I was able to find a seat, but the place was packed and there were people standing as well…and this was no small church.

When the musicians talked about their song selections and that all the songs were played during the last service two weeks prior that James had played drums for them, my eyes started tearing up. They continued with what was a testimony as to James’ coming to grips with eternity and how a sermon preached there by the pastor was as though he was speaking directly to James and everything else faded away. I know that feeling as well. I had a pastor preach about the value of the alabaster jar that Mary anointed Christ with…and when the pastor asked what we had in our alabaster jar to lay at the feet of Christ well, that was my breaking point with Christ where I was broken. I had been praying and it was affirmed for me then. What was interesting was on the day of the memorial, my morning Bible reading, was Isaiah 57. Verses 1-2 (especially verse 2) were the ones I pondered on. Verse 2 says, For the GODly who die, will rest in peace (this is from the Living Translation). I thank GOD for I had shared/talked with James about JESUS and he heard the call. All I did was plant a seed. GOD called and James heard.

I first met James in December of 1981. Why do I remember the time frame? I had someone aka ex-wife tell me that if I didn’t find a band and play a gig by the end of the year (this demand came in the first week of December, 1981), I was to give up my music. Well I went down to the local music store, Gilbert’s Music, and saw an ad for a band needing a lead guitarist. I answered the ad, and got an audition. I went to the garage the band was rehearsing in Newark, CA (basically I traveled down a street called Thornton from the Fremont side where I lived to their place in Newark which was easy). Got down there, got set up, and as we were tuning, the introductions got under way. On bass was Tim Bucher, rhythm guitar was Della Sullivan (whom we have tried to find) and James, who was 17 at the time, was on drums. Later we added a soundman, who is now a killer behind the board with a number of credits to his name, Bob Tiwana. They told me their song list and we started going over the songs we all knew together. The fit was perfect and we had a great time. Well we had to wait for the singer to finalize whether I was in the band or not. She came in from having to work late at her job and we all played a song together. Her first comment about me was, “where’d you find this guy?” With a great compliment like that, I was in. We did our first gig right after Christmas, so I guess I didn’t have to give up my music.

James had this great double bass set of red Slingerland Drums. James was the first drummer I had played with that had bass drums that were that small…22”. He got a great, full, loud sound out of those drums. I asked him how he got such a great sound out of the drums. He shrugged his shoulders, smiled, and said, “wooden knockers”. He had wooden mallets on his pedals that matched his drums. And normally when someone was a power drummer, they had no finesse. James had both and yes he could be dynamic when he wanted to be. The first thing he did that amazed me as to his talent, which as good as he is, was a GOD given talent, was his drum intro for an original song, Rockin’ the Cradle. Where he showed me some serious finesse was in one of my originals, Carry Me On. One night at practice, James let me know he had a surprise for me. At one particular spot in my solo, I did 32nd note triplets. When I went for these triplets, James was right there with me, note for note. And the lick he chose to transcend out when the lick was done…WAS KILLER!!! By the way, James’ favorite drummer at the time was Buddy Rich, which is why he had the Slingerlands.

We played a lot of the local clubs and always went over big time. Some of those clubs were: The Crown & Anchor, and the Ducal Palace in Alameda, The Bohemian and the Brick House in Hayward, Niles Station (an icon and a legacy) and Joe’s Corner in the Niles District of Fremont, the Bodega in Campbell, the Catalyst in the hills between San Jose and Santa Cruz, and Keystone Palo Alto just to name a few.

One of my greatest music memories was with James and Breaking Point. I had written a sappy love song called Baby Hold On and shared it with everyone that night at practice. I thought the song was okay and don’t even know why I shared it. Tami really liked it and the others seemed to think the song was pretty good. I wrote it to sound like, Pat Benatar meets Eddie Money meets Boston. We played it out in the spring of 1982 for the first time at Joe’s Corner in Niles District. We announced this was a debut night for a new song, Baby Hold On. As I started the song with the guitar vamp, the people stayed on the dance floor and more rose out of their seats as well. The dance floor packed. By the second time the chorus came around, the crowd was singing it with us. People used to ask me why I didn’t do drugs…and this is why. The natural high I got after cause and affecting so many people like that was incredible…nothing to buy and no damage to the mind or body. And I could bring it back even now…a great flashback.

Not long after this, the band broke up…and I referred to the band as Broken Point. We had a great band and the crowds enjoyed us as much as we did them. An example of this was when the USS Enterprise left Alameda, the crew asked us to be their fare well gig and it was great.

When the band broke up, he joined Handzoff which was a great band. I went to support them at the battle of the bands, and I thought they should have won. This was the first time I had even seen James with the glitter on his drums. I thought they rocked the house and all of them are great talents as was James.

James had a great law practice where he helped a number of people and had a reputation for being a fair person with his clients. As one of them told me when James represented him, they won the case and James’ fees were more than fair. I had visited him a number of times at his office in Fremont and went to his favorite Chinese restaurant across the street from his office on Paseo Padre Parkway.

He had a wonderful family with his wife, Robi, and his sons, James II, Hunter, Ivanhoe Connor, and Carlynn. His sons continue in their father’s footsteps in music as the creative gifts from James flow through the family. I am sure his daughter will share in these gifts as well.

James was a true talent that not only his family and friends have lost, but the world has lost as well. It seems he excelled in everything he did. I know he cared about others…that was evident not only in the testimonies I heard from others, but the size of the people there to pay their respects. And as I said earlier this is not a small church and it was packed by people who came to pay their respects to both this great man and his wonderful family. My comfort is…that I will be able to see him again. My hopes are that all these people that attended the services will make the same commitment James and I have made or have made the commitment to JESUS and GOD and we will all be together “on the other side.”