johnwengerbio

I just love music like most everyone. I took clarinet in the 3rd grade. It looked real pretty under the bright lights but I was never really good with the instrument. I did play it for three years in my elementary school band. Many begin here, and some become proficient. I always admired people who sang and thought that was good. I sang along with the radio like most. My girlfriend loved the Beatles and I became a fan, too. Soon the guitar caught my attention. I made a big decision to trade my Selmer clarinet for a 12-string guitar. It was not a wise trade. The clarinet was worth a few bucks - sorry Mom and Dad. I never got good on that guitar. Just try tuning a cheap 12-string guitar. This instrument became a dust collector.

I met Skip by chance and this became a long friendship. I don't have a brother but Skip would have been my choice if given the chance to pick. We met at a party Skip was hosting. Not long after meeting Skip I dropped in on him unannounced. It was a Saturday morning and I told him I wanted to learn to play guitar. I don't know why he didn't say "Get out of here"; instead he said "If you practice this and that, we'll see". I didn't know it at first but Skip was teaching me the fine points of finger picking and guitar chord fingering. Most beginners just learn a fast easy way and hope to play a two or three chord song. Skip said I needed to put time into it, and do it right. It was difficult but it was fun. He showed me so much over the years. As a result of this friendship and his training, not too many years later we played together on a local television program called "Man on the Move" later renamed "People on the Move". Skip suggested we start an acoustic band and said "If you want to be in this band, you will have to sing". In other words, John we'll let you play the guitar but the reason you are here is to sing. I thought about it, and he did say they would let me play the guitar. It was good; I had fun, enjoyed the music and learned a lot. They thought I could sing - who am I to argue. That is how I got drafted into singing.

Skip loaned me the money to buy a good student guitar. My wife didn't appreciate the gesture, but that's history, and the truth. Skip used his income tax refund so I could buy that guitar. He said it was a great student model guitar and it was sweet. The instrument only got better with age. It helped that someone who knows these things found that special instrument. I really enjoyed playing it and wish I still had it. I continued to learn Skip's style of playing. Hey it was free - good price right? I would like to think I was good player. I will say I became proficient with finger picking styles found in Peter, Paul & Mary's folk music. That is intricate music. Skip would play the most difficult parts and teach me the second guitar part. This is how he taught me and I would play for hours. I got good enough to play the more difficult works by Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot and others. I never mastered a flat pick and lead riffs. I love the Doobie Brothers and songs like China Grove. I would beat on my guitar but it just wasn't right. Loved Chicago, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Dan Fogleberg and the Eagles. These groups were my roots and inspiration. So many others but I am running on.

The band Skip started finally broke up. We all grew up and moved on with our lives. I started singing in my church choir about six years ago. It's different but I like it. It's different because you sing with many others and although you don't sing harmony or lead vocals it is very gratifying. I tried to stayed in touch with old Band members but people grow apart. This is normal and life goes on. Skip wanted to stop doing other peoples' music, known as covers. He started writing his own songs. A friend of Skip's heard his song's and mentioned Andrew Luttrell. He said Skip should look him up because he is good. We got together with Andrew in August 2005. Things just seemed to mesh and this CD is the work of these two talents. Skip said "Hey, John, you can be in the group if you sing". I thought to myself that's the best offer I've had in a long time. It sounds like the old story where one says that's were I came in. This time though there was no offer to play my guitar. I developed Multiple Sclerosis in 1991. Guitar playing as a serious musician wasn't happening. It is great that Skip and Andrew asked me to sing and I am flattered. I could make a joke and say they hire the handicapped but they are both serious musicians and they don't treat me any differently. They have put their money and hard work into this CD. Yet they plan to donate a portion of the profits to MS research. That floored me because I found this out when I was asked to help proof the words and credits that are part of the CD. These guys are special beyond their music and talent.