Jimmy Dale Surf Trio, The Starhoppers
For Jimmy Dale, music — specifically surf music — is a family tradition. His father, Dick Dale, remains the undisputed King of Surf Music, a pioneer who elevated surf music to lofty other-worldly levels. As the King's son, and heir, Jimmy was groomed from an early age to one day assume his preordained role: keeping his father's music alive. Not as King, but as the Crown Prince of Surf.
When Jimmy was two years old, his dad harnessed his toddler son's bustling energy and began teaching him to play the drums, while most kids his age were learning nursery rhymes. But Jimmy was not just drumming in his playroom. His mom, Jill Dale, set up a small kit on the side of the stage for Jimmy during Dick's shows.
In 3rd grade, Dick began teaching Jimmy how to play guitar. But not just any guitar. In the mid-1990s, Dick commissioned Fender guitar master builder, John English, to make Jimmy a custom-made Fender Stratocaster, right down to the iconic lead-based gold metal-flake paint job and custom skinny neck. Jimmy plays this right-handed replica of the Dick Dale guitar to this day.
While he began his guitar lessons, Jimmy continued playing the drums, studying the dynamic style, showmanship, and innovation of Gene Krupa, considered to be one of the greatest drummers, and his dad's favorite.
But like his dad, Jimmy's first love was the guitar. Now, he would attend his dad's shows and be backstage playing along, matching his father's style note for note. Jimmy got so proficient, that for his debut, Dick would take his hands off his guitar, shocking and confusing the crowd, until to their delight, he pulled back the curtain and revealed Jimmy backstage, playing the same chords, not missing a beat.
When Dick Dale passed away in 2019, it was an incalculable loss for fans of pure surf music, leaving a void seemingly impossible to fill. Of course, there will never be another Dick Dale, but his music lives on through his son Jimmy, whose style and intensity is as close as anyone will get to experience the energy and excitement of his father.
It was only natural that Jimmy would pick up right where his dad left off. Jimmy reached out to Dick's long-time backing band: Sam Bolle on bass and Dusty Watson on drums. Sam and Dusty toured all over the world with Dick Dale for decades, and now with Jimmy, they will be performing in California where surf music was born. They will be thrilling audiences with ferocious Dick Dale surf music. The music that made Dick Dale a legend.
Opening the show will be Humboldt’s own surf/space trio The Starhoppers.
Jimmy Dale Surf Trio
With The Starhoppers
Saturday, September 14 at 7:30PM
$26.50 advance/online, $30 at the door
The Old Steeple
246 Berding Street
Ferndale, CA 95536
707-786-7030
theoldsteeple.com
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