John Simpkins
+ Muchly Suchwise
We caught up with trumpet master, John Simpkins of Muchly Suchwise..
When did you first get into music? The moment when I truly got into music was when my older brother Dave Simpkins asked me to join his band, Askimbo. At age 14, I was the youngest in the group. I can’t fully express how cool it was to feel a part of something that was so much bigger than me. For years, our group of 6 did everything together. Initially, it was hard to get gigs. We rehearsed nightly. Eventually, the band got a side gig cleaning a preschool so we could buy a P.A. and start putting on our own shows. This group of musicians became as important to me as my own family. We all still play music, and are a major part of each other’s lives. To this day, we play in projects together, help one another find work, and help to raise each other’s children. One of the most exciting parts of my current project, “Muchly Suchwise” is that Dave Simpkins is on bass, James Romine on drums, and Candra Rios on Tenor Sax were all members of that original version of Askimbo with me. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? At a young age, my mother Judy Gardner definitely instilled a love of art and self expression in me and my brothers. She is an amazing artist and teacher, her studio is called Alchemical Eye Studio. My family as a whole has always been artistic. Some of the greatest memories of my childhood are creating art projects with my mom, or sitting with family members as we paint or craft. I was never a very good painter but the time I got with my grandmother, mom, and brothers was priceless. What probably got me into music was my dad, saying he didn’t approve. He is a Pentecostal Minister, and him telling me I could not listen to secular music or play it, only made me want it more. I didn’t rebel too hard though, the music I really got into was Ron Miles. He had come to my middle school to perform Photo Credits: Top - Sonia Gonzalez-Ortega, Right - Dave Simpkins
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