Messenger

In the beginning...

In September of 1979, the New Cameron Band folded and I the only gig in South Florida I had offered to me was playing keyboards only in a Mike Vetro 10-piece show band - playing all disco. I decided it was time to get out of Miami.

I left Florida for what many were saying was the new musician's Utopia, Austin, TX. My parents were living in San Antonio, so we stopped to visit for a few weeks. However, before the end of the first week, I ran across former members of Toby Beau: Ron Rose, Steve Zipper, and Robbie Young. They had joined up with singer Beth Hooker and were looking for a keyboard player. After jamming with them, we finalized the band, Messenger.

The band caught on quick in clubs around San Antonio. With Beth's strong voice, Ron's versatile guitar & banjo, a great foundation with Steve on bass and Robbie and drums, and me on keyboards, the group performed music by Heart, Toto, Little Feat, as well as originals.

Messenger's favorite place to play was Cooter Brown's, an indoor/outdoor venue out near the University of Texas at San Antonio, and we were booked there often.

Sadly, the band lasted only for a year. My thoughts turned again to the state capital of Texas, Austin.