My memory is lacking when it comes to early band history. I remember going to rehearsal at our drummers house. His name was Roger and he played "409" by this new group, the Beach Boys. We all got off on the new sound. This was my first experience with what was to become known as Surf Music. Years earlier, "Walk Don't Run" by the Ventures, was a hit; but they were not classified as a Surf Group until years later.   I had a job in downtown Cleveland. Only a few news stands carried the Music Trade Magazines and then only a very few copies. On this particular day the stars were with me. Not only did I get a copy of Billboard Magazine, but inside was an ad for "Surfer's Choice," Dick Dale's first album. On the same page was a plastic insert promotional record of Dick Dale's classic "Misirlou". It later became the theme of Quentin Tarantino's movie "Pulp Fiction."   The sound of this recording blew me away. This ultimately led to the creation of The Shifter's, Cleveland's first surf band. I took a lot of flack when I Bleached the front of my pompadour blond. Macho male types were always asking me where my purse was. After a while I started telling them to stop it or I would hit them with my purse.   Some people in the Jewish community were also upset with me as I wore a black Surfer's cross on a chain around my neck. It was hip surfer jewelry made by Swank. The cross has flared ends and is identical to U.S. armed forces sharp shooter medals. Even the mother of my girlfriend at the time insisted it was a swastika. "He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good"   Years later, after moving to the west coast, I wrote a Recording Studio column for Music Connection Magazine. When CBS sold Fender Musical Instruments the new owners held a press luncheon and tour of the guitar factory. I had lunch with Steve Cropper, the Memphis Guitar great best known for writing songs like "In The Midnight Hour," "Knock On Wood," and "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay." Steve also played with Booker T and The MG's.   Later that day, I toured the Fender Guitar Factory with Dave Mason ("Only You Know and I Know") and Dick Dale, King of the Surf Guitar, who's music had stirred my soul so many years earlier. During the tour Dick showed me the type of picks he used and explained how heavy gauge strings got that "balls to the wall" guitar sound. Since the Fender factory tour, I have seen Dick Dale play a number of times. My favorite time was at the NAMM Convention, an annual event that takes place in Los Angeles every year. Dick played his hits, one after another, on an acoustical guitar. I stood six feet away watching where he voiced the notes on the guitar neck. "And the wheel keeps turnin' round and round"

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From left to right: Jeff Janning , Dick Dale, Fender's Representative and Dave Mason

From left to right: Dick Dale, Dave Mason, Jeff Janning and Fender's Representative

This is a no brainer

Dick Dale and Jeff Janning both a bit older