Irene Lead Vocals Penny Whistle		BJ Bass Vocals
John Rhythm Guitar Vocals		Brett Lead Guitar
Jay       Percussion     Vocals		Kim       Sound     Goddess

John Grastorf
Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Click here to see John's Bio Pictures  

Jo3n: (the 3 is silent)

Always there was music. My grandfather had a Dixieland band in the '20's. He was an excellent arranger who could write out parts for every musician in the band. He had a warm sense of melody. My father played sax and clarinet. His work with the saxophone was spectacular. Even when the depression hit, the band was booked two years in advance.

The band members did what they had to do to survive. Father went to work at Eastman Kodak Company and did well there. He went to night school in chemical engineering. When I was a boy, we processed color photographs in our basement in the early '50's. I remember the men coming to the house during the week to practice music for their weekend jobs playing at the clubs. Almost all of them had to work day jobs. They told stories of where they had traveled and the big bands: Welk, Basie, Teagarden. They talked about working for them and the places they had played.

The powerful, exotic musicians with their tales and their superb art were heroic in stature. I remember how shocked I was to learn in early high school years that some of them were discriminated against. My resentment of discrimination for any reason has stayed with me all my life.

My father recommended that I work with guitar. He was aware of the growing possibilities in the instrument. He told me it could sound like a keyboard, a horn, a voice - anything at all. All that he had said came true. I took lessons and played folk music in the late '50's.

The world called to me. I went into the service and did well with languages. I had some Spanish from high school and learned Russian at the Presidio in Monterey. I met a blues man named Pat Foster playing at Kalissa's on Cannery Row. He had two albums of documentary talking blues on Folkways records. He showed me many of the elements of guitar technique that I came to use. He was a wild man. He indirectly gave me a lot of experience dealing with immensely talented artists and staying out of trouble.

I was sent to Germany and worked in intelligence. I learned German. I learned and grew and traveled. When I returned home I began to play more actively again. I met some warm friends and fine musicians who have all had influence in my life and music.

The '60's were a time of change and powerful music. We sang the songs of freedom. I played in Jerry Porter's blues band. We jammed with Paul Butterfield and Alvin Bishop. We played backup for Sun House, who retired in my hometown. I had superb influences from fine musicians. I thank them all.

Worked on and walked on. Got married, worked in construction had two super little girls who continue to hold my deepest love. We traveled to Alaska, then Seattle to build buildings. I became a good leader in the building of commercial buildings and have earned my way through most of my working life with that.

All through the time when my kids were growing, I continued to find the music I had learned to be a solace and a reward while facing the responsibilities that are a part of all our lives. Children's' stories and songs slipped in amongst the blues.

As my children grew and became independent, it came to me that the world they were going out to face was becoming more and more oppressive. I had been asleep and let my vigilance flag. Violence, drugs, graft and the unbridled greed of those who would be our leaders all brought me to write. I was shocked. What came out seemed to make sense. It actually seemed to make sense to other folks as well. I found music to reflect the feelings behind my words.

My oldest daughter, Irene, was in Okinawa serving with the Marines. When she returned after her tour, she brought Jason back with her. We began to shape the music that was forming amongst us. They brought their own bright view of the world, their own immense creative powers and have been my staunchest allies since.

Sometimes the arts overcome us; take on a power and life of their own. At this time my driving objective is to portray the bright beauty of our world, our environment and the nobility that we can have in our lives.

Always, there is music.