Saturday, September 29, 2018

Fifteen Year Old Guitar Prodigy Emerges in Northwest Blues Scene

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Marco Peña and Band; "Troberg"

by steven masone
Last time I found a Diamond in the rough, was when Steve Clausman, of Claussie Productions, and I listened to a tape by fledgling rockers and band mates... called City Kid. What we heard caused us to arrange to see them at their next practice session in their garage. They were a power trio instrumentally, with a lead singer. Later, renamed TESLA. Frankie Hannon, was a 16 year old guitar prodigy. Singer Jeff Keith, guitarist Frank Hannon, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta were the original City Kid who later added guitarist Tommy Skeoch. 
TESLA
Steve Clausman hired me to partnership with him to consult on working with another one of his Bands; Ian Shelter. Steve was new to the music business, and asked me after the audition if I thoughtCity Kid had potential, I told him if he didn't sign them... I would! We already had a concert planned for Ian Shelter at the American River College Campus in Sacramento and let City Kid open up for Ian Shelter. Steve was promoting Ian Shelter's EP "Show You" 
...otherwise he would have given top bill to City Kid, which was my recommendation. Of course City Kidstole the show! 

















Ian Shelter EP "Show You"



I met Marco Peña at a Blues Jam in Eugene, Oregon just last month and did a set with him and other jammers.



As soon as he started playing, he was "Shredding" like I remember Frank Hannon did that sold Steve Clausman on signing him and City Kid. The "Buzz" about town of a "Guitar Prodigy" has hit the Eugene music scene. Marco Peña started jamming with seasoned pro's just in the last month. Marco and his band mates have only been together a couple of months and pulled off two... one in a half hour sets at the Maker's Faire held at the Science Center where this video was taken.



Bass player Aidan Goodwin and Drummer Tom Troberg

However, the "Buzz" will also be revving up about the band "TROBERG" soon. This Power Trio has had very little practice time for all the songs they did in their debut show. Marco Peña has signed with Masone & Associates' "School Of Blues." School Of Blues is a blues and rock component of Project  PRO/AM  (PPA)
PPA is a pilot program where professional artists
and business people teach young people, both
academically stable, and those at risk... to learn
all phases of a Dinner Theatre and a collaborative
Performing Arts Program. The professional food
and beverage component will be a culinary school
training program that will prepare students to not
only become skilled in all phases as workers, but
also provide entrepreneurial training and hands
on management opportunities. Then if desired,
cross trained in Theatre Arts. And vice-versa.

As an after school and summer program, PPA will

utilize family, community and school personnel to be
involved with students internship and participation
in PPA. The Executive director of PPA will
coordinate and act as case worker as to students
progress, liaise with family, educators, and
any other relevant person or agency involved in student's
counselling for future school and or job placement.

PPA will initially outsource much of the class room

curriculum with established culinary and business
programs in local high schools and college/
technical schools where resources are available.

The Theatre Arts program will be a first phase,

where students will be involved with production of
a  musical chosen where the professional theatre
 company will have trained and rehearsed all
students involved as cast members, and all other
aspects of show. However, the professionals will
appear and perform in the shows that will be
competitively priced and staged like any regional
level Dinner Theatre Operation.

The student productions will then be performed and

produced by the students themselves  for
the amateur non-profit program. And where appropriate;
gratis pricing. ( As inducement for underprivileged
youth to encourage their participation.)

The long range goals of PPA will be to coalesce the

program into a School for the Performing and
Culinary Arts. The students will be challenged to
work towards completing their formal education
while gaining invaluable experience, skills, problem
solving, in an atmosphere designed to instill self-
confidence and social interaction and team work
with peers in a culturally diverse environment.

Students will learn valuable customer and human
relations, with cross training in the guest
relations aspects of Theatre, Food & Beverage
and Hospitality Industry.

PPA will use resources available to evaluate
students skill level and proficiency to assist in
capitalizing on their strong areas and develop
leadership skills with internships at participating
organizations and businesses PPA will partner
with.

PPA will utilize a mentor-ship model where college
level students will mentor the younger students
and tutor those who have need to bring their
academic scores to acceptable levels as "staying in
school" will be a requirement for participation in PPA.

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