klickitat band camp

Dad played trumpet growing up, and this led to his dance group during college at the University of Oregon called The Basin Streeters. They recorded an EP on vinyl under the name The Sexless Six, including a rendition of Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey and something on the B side. Dad finally let me hear it when I was in seventh grade, the summer I blew the living room speakers out with my first electric guitar (a Gibson SG copy) after plugging it into the "Aux In" channels of the old Kenwood receiver with blue lights. The speakers sounded even better blown for guitar, but Strauss was a problem. This all comes later. I still have the Kenwood receiver.

My parents married, and my big sister (although she's no bigger than a penny, even now!), Stacy Sue Goodman, was born in 1960 in Arkansas. Our family then moved back to my father's roots in Oregon so dad could attend law school while my mom worked and raised Stacy, and then I came along. According to my family, I didn't talk for a disturbing long time. I just pointed and grunted, and my sister understood what I meant and did everything for me. At some point when I was about two or so, my sister dropped me on my head. I don't remember that, but I do remember getting into everything. Basically, I was like a little drooling rototiller. I remember the smell of Dippity Doo waiting for my mother at the hair salon and not being able to sit still. Dad called me Mr. Busy, and then later, Shay Bear.