Music for Tom
MUSIC FOR TOM. Last December, the Bay Area’s beloved sound engineer and producer Tom Size was diagnosed with an advanced form of melanoma. It was an aggressive strain and because his life changed so quickly and dramatically, friends rose up to help.
To assist with medical expenses, lead singer/guitarist of Y&T, Dave Meniketti, launched a GoFundMe page for Size in April, where donations are still coming in. While Y&T was established in 1974, Meniketti’s professional relationship and friendship with Size began in 1988. You’ll find the GoFundMe link also living on Y&T’s homepage at www.yandtrocks.com.
“Tom has been responsible for over a decade of amazing sound at live shows, all over the world for Y&T and the Meniketti band,” writes Meniketti. “He also engineered and mixed Y&T’s Facemelter CD, Live at the Mystic CD, engineered the Ten record, mixed the One Hot Night DVD, and has been involved with many other Y&T and Meniketti recording projects. Outside of Y&T, Tom is a legendary, sought-after engineer who has also worked in the studio with many greats, such as Aerosmith, Journey, Mr. Big, and so many others.”
This Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m., the music community will gather at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley to offer a special evening to benefit the Tom Size Cancer Fund and the public is invited. “Tom Size has been a pivotal member of the Bay Area music community for at least 30 years,” offers the Freight & Salvage website. “A kind, unassuming and truly brilliant person, he has worked in every major studio and with countless musicians; from Steve Miller and Huey Lewis to Cris Williamson and Laurie Lewis. Tom has given his heart and soul to the music and the musicians. His ears and technical ability are unrivaled. Even more important than being a master of his craft, he is a great human being who loves his friends and clients with all his heart. He is our dear friend and champion, and now we want to champion him.”
Special guests include Tommy Castro, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, Linda Tillery, Los Cenzontles, Barbara Higbie, Nina Gerber and Chris Webster, and Hills to Hollers. Tickets are $26 in advance and $28 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. Freight & Salvage is located at 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley. Call 510-644-2020 or visit www.thefreight.org.
HAPPY BDAY POPS: Last week, the patriarch of the Escovedo family, Pete Escovedo, celebrated his 81st birthday with a birthday dance party featuring sons Juan and Peter Michael at The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall in Berkeley. The big birthday surprise, however, happened a few days earlier when Escovedo (aka Pops) learned that thanks to the gesture of a private collector one of his paintings titled “Chief Yellow Feather” was heading to the Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle (www.blackhawkmuseum.org) in Danville to join the current “Native Americans” exhibit which is part of “The Spirit of the Old West” exhibition. Chief Yellow Feather was the Chief of the Wampanoag people that welcomed the Mayflower landing party at Plymouth in 1620. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “I haven’t been in a museum before,” he told me with a twinkle in his eye.
Music fans have long enjoyed his spirited shows and timbale showdowns with his kids which often includes daughter Sheila E. While his musical talent has been established worldwide, he actually started painting at age 15 and hasn’t has looked back. Currently, his art is being exhibited at the White Box Studio Art Gallery at 1726 San Pablo Ave. in Oakland through this Saturday, July 23. The art gallery is open from 12noon to 6 p.m. and Escovedo, his devoted wife Juanita, and daughter Zina are all on hand to welcome you. Original paintings, prints and more are available for purchase. For more Escovedo art and music information, visit peteescovedo.com.