Embarking on a musical journey sparked by sibling inspiration and fueled by a transformative encounter in 1968, I traded my saxophone for a modest white Harmony electric guitar, setting the stage for the birth of The New Horizon and the realization of my adolescent dreams...
In our youth, my older sister Donna and I were guided by our parents' musical passions. While our mother reveled in the melodies of the accordion, our father found solace in the soulful tones of the tenor saxophone. Thus, fate dealt Donna the accordion, and bestowed upon me the saxophone, marking the beginning of my musical journey.
I found great joy in wielding an instrument, though formal lessons failed to capture my enthusiasm. In sixth grade, fueled by dreams of joining Cardinal Dougherty High School's esteemed marching band, I envisioned myself marching alongside my sister, who had freely transitioned from the accordion to the Band's Color Guard. Inspired by her path, I eagerly sought to emulate her journey and carve my own musical legacy.
In 1968, a transformative moment swept into my life. It was at my sister's party, where the air was charged with the rhythm of a live band. As the guitarist strummed the chords of "Rock around the Clock," I found myself captivated by the sounds of the guitar. Simultaneously, amidst the pulse of adolescence, I observed how the girls gravitated towards the band members. This revelation ignited a fervent desire within me, prompting a persuasive plea to my parents to trade my saxophone for a guitar. Reluctantly, the saxophone was relinquished, making way for a modest white Harmony electric guitar and amp, symbolizing the inception of my journey towards self-discovery and artistic expression.
As the summer of 1969 unfurled, a transformative tide swept over me, reshaping my musical palette from the saccharine tunes of Bubble Gum to the mind-bending melodies of Psychedelia. Amidst this sonic evolution, another element wove its way into my life: marijuana. However, it wasn't until my junior year in high school that destiny struck, bringing me and my guitar-wielding friend, Joe, together to form a band. Though the path to fruition was winding, our collective efforts finally bore fruit, birthing the ethereal entity known as The New Horizon.
In the heart of this journey lies the unparalleled camaraderie among bandmates, a bond far deeper than typical friendships. With myself and Joe strumming guitars, Nick holding down the bass, Wayne commanding the drums, and Mark's vocals leading the charge, our synergy seemed electric. Practice wasn't merely a necessity; it was a joyous ritual, where laughter and music intertwined seamlessly. Disagreements occasionally arose, yet a shared moment of relaxation, a few tokes from a shared joint, swiftly smoothed any rough edges. Beyond our rehearsal space, we morphed into a merry troupe, reminiscent of the Three Stooges, delighting in our antics even amid public settings, did if forget to mention we smoked a lot of pot too.
Our journey into the world of music began with a humble gig at a local church, where admission was just a dollar, and we earned half the proceeds. With sheer determination and the support of our friends, we promoted the event tirelessly, packing the venue to capacity. Despite our less-than-stellar performance, we walked away with cash in hand. Our journey continued with varied gigs, including a forgettable gig at a college coffee house where audience members outshone us on our own instruments. Yet, a shining moment emerged when we found ourselves competing against the then-unknown Sister Sledge at a high school band competition, marking a notable milestone in our band's history.
In our high school days, our band even attracted groupies, but as graduation approached, fissures emerged. My attention veered towards the allure of girls, particularly my girlfriend, who unwittingly assumed the role of our band's "Yoko." Dubbed the Virgin Mary by my mates for her aversion to cursing and pot, her presence imposed unexpected constraints. Though the band dissolved long ago, the echoes of our adventures linger, etched into the fabric of my memories.
The End.
Stumbling upon old photographs of the high school band I once played in flooded me with a wave of nostalgia, igniting a fire of reminiscence that compelled me to embark on the journey of penning this story. ~Belle
Footnote: The moniker 'The New Horizon' was bestowed upon us by our friend Mike, also the band's original drummer, from a book he was reading at the time, Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley.
Photos by Z Productions.