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      October 4, 2024Letter to Bob Boynton, Music ProdigyVince Gotera

      Dear Bob: I find myself hearkening back
      sometimes to those old days when you and I
      were playing in garage bands, way way back
      in high school. You were the drummer and I
       
      was the guitarist. Remember that time
      when we tape recorded a practice song?
      It was The Doors’ “Light My Fire.” A damn fine
      recording, that was. Rickrock channeling 
       
      Morrison, John doing Manzarek, and
      me wielding Krieger’s solo note for note,
      with you and Steve, best damn rhythm section.
      But, you know, Bob, we never really did
       
      justice to your skills, not only were you
      an excellent drummer; you also played
      the flute and, I think, the saxophone too.
      Guitar, bass—you were a quintuple threat!
       
      Whatever happened to that demo tape,
      do you know? We were really kicking ass
      that day. But you, old friend, you were excep-
      tional: rolling fills and cymbal crashes,
       
      keeping time with your strong foot on the kick,
      crisp attack on high hat and snare, a prince
      on the drum throne. Each time we played, you shook
      the stage like a damn earthquake. Thank you. —Vince

      from #85 – Musicians

      Vince Gotera

      “I play bass in the band Deja Blue and also guitar in the duo Groovy News. I’ve played in bands for several decades. Music has been a crucial theme in many of my poems, focusing most often on guitars and guitarists as well as on the act and feeling of performance.”