It was 50 Summers Ago Today!

By Patrick Durr

We are fortunate here in Modesto to have fantastic repertoire groups like Opera Modesto, Central West Ballet, and the Gallo Center Repertory company. All three have events at the Gallo Center in late April and the first week of May that you will want to attend.

Join Opera Modesto and a star-studded cast of singers as we celebrate 40 years of opera in the Central Valley on April 30th at 4 pm at Gallo Center for the Arts. Erik “Buck” Townsend founded Townsend Opera Players in 1983, and here we are! Whether you’ve been a fan since the beginning or are brand new to Opera Modesto productions, you won’t want to miss this wonderful afternoon of famous opera hits, arias, duets, choruses, and instrumental interludes. And lots of great memories, too!

Peter Pan, the ultimate magical story ballet, is back! Based on the beloved book by James Barrie, the famous story of the boy who never grew up was first performed by Central West Ballet at the Gallo Center in 2009. It features a heartwarming score by composer Carmon Deleone, musical director of Cincinnati Ballet. Journey to Neverland with Peter, Wendy, John, Michael, and Tinker Bell as they encounter Peter’s arch-enemy, Captain James Hook! After you see it, you might feel like flying, too! May 5-7 at Gallo Center for the Arts.

Five stories from Edgar Allan Poe are brought to life through illustrated projections, shadow work, and macabre musical interludes. Like torn pages from the haunted mind of a man in love with melancholy, we present Poe’s tales and poems: The Tell Tale Heart, The Fall of The House of Usher, The Cask of Amontillado, The Imp of the Perverse, and The Black Cat. In one tale, we enter the mind of someone who has witnessed the death of their lover or has, perhaps, been responsible for it. In another, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-inlaw has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely. Journey with us through the twisted tales of love and death and the mind of Edgar Allan Poe as conceived, adapted, and co-directed by Jim Johnson, Wes Page, and Jewel Whitaker.

Gallo Center for the Arts May 5-7.

Prior to Home Grown, Michael Lingg and I knew each other from high school days. He played guitar with Eisage, and I was a member of the Ratz. After the demise of those groups, Michael and I worked together in a couple of other bands. Bruce Johnson was the lead vocalist with another set of musicians, including the group Countryside. In mid-1973 the three of us immediately began to harmonize, with Michael and I playing acoustic guitars. Each of us knew from that first evening together that we were onto something special.

At that time the Vintage Restaurant in downtown Modesto was the only venue that encouraged groups with acoustic instruments, or “wooden music” as it was called and we decided that we would rehearse so we could get booked at the Vintage “to play a little music for the summer.”

Patrick Durr. There is an intimacy and focus in music that relies on two acoustic guitars, hand percussion, and three voices in harmony.

In 1986 the Home Grown song You Can Fly was the soundtrack for the Grand Prize winning CityVideo competition sponsored by the Arts & Entertainment network and featured the three of us at various Modesto locations. We also completed a video of our original song, Oh Brother!. Our most recent release, Home Grown, Our Own, includes all-original songs from throughout our history.

The Century is hosting a murder mystery dinner party featuring the Mayhem Mystery Players! Welcome to glamorous Old Hollywood! You’ll enjoy a delicious dinner with your table while watching the Mayhem Mystery Players’ premiere production, “Murder on the Cutting Room Floor.” Can you solve the mystery and crack the case? The 3-course meal will include a house salad, an entrée, and dessert, so be sure to book your ticket today! Please be advised the age requirement is 16 and older! If you want a front-row seat of all the mayhem, mystery, and murder, you will want to get a VIP ticket to this event(which includes a drink voucher and swag bag.) April 13th14th, 7-10 pm and 16th, 5:30-8:30 pm, 927 10th Street, Modesto.

The ballet is about a girl named Coppelia who sits on her balcony all day reading and never speaking to anyone. A boy named Franz falls deeply in love with her even though he is already engaged to another. His fiance, Swanhilda, sees Franz throwing kisses to Coppelia. Swanhilda soon learns that Coppelia is a doll that belongs to Doctor Coppelius, the toy maker. She decides to impersonate the doll to win back the love of Franz. Chaos ensues, but all is soon forgiven. Swanhilda and Franz make up and get married. The marriage is celebrated with several festive dances. April 21-22 at Gallo Center for the Arts.

I remember the moment when Michael and I decided upon the name Home Grown to reflect our local roots and acoustic style. Initially, we knew only one set of songs for the Vintage, but as our repertoire progressed, we began to draw large audiences of “regulars,” that is, fans. Many of our fans became our close friends. Soon we were playing the “steak house circuit” in the Bay Area. Our job in those venues was to entertain people as they were waiting to be called for dinner and to get them to return for more music. This goal caused us to expand our repertoire even further, and we developed theme sets, such as The History of Rock & Roll and the songs of T.V. Westerns.

In 1976 we completed our first recording project, the vinyl record album Home Grown, that included audience favorites and original songs. We decided to take our music on the road and more musicians were included in the group. At various intervals, Home Grown has been a sixpiece band, a five-piece ensemble, and a quartet, but the core and essential sound of Home Grown has always been the original trio of Michael Lingg, Bruce Johnson, and

Our goal “to play a little music for the summer” has become fifty summers. On the journey we became brothers, sometimes disagreeing, but each filled with love and respect for the other two. We have intertwined our Home Grown families, and the three young men who got together for that one summer are now grandparents. Life is good.

This month, we will be performing at the State Theatre to celebrate with Uncle Lonny Presents as a benefit for Hope Haven West Wheelchair program. We hope to see you there.

Besides our countless gigs, here are some of the Homegrown Highlights:

1973 (Spring) – Michael Lingg and Patrick Durr met Bruce Johnson

1976 – Mt. Aire Concert for 12,000 people: opened for Seal & Crofts, Poco & Pure Prairie League

1976 - Released vinyl record album entitled “Home Grown”

1991 – Mancini Bowl (Graceada Park) (1st year with new dome) w/ bass, drums, horns and flute

2000 – 1st annual MAMA Awards: received Lifetime Achievement Award

2002 – Kurume, Japan (a Modesto Sister City): performed for a week of events

2009 – Released “A Home Grown Christmas” CD

2018 – Prospect Theater (Drew Durr’s “Migrant Mother” CD release)

2021 – Released “Our Own”: a CD with all original songs