HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE 2019

Happy 68th Birthday Steve!  I will be 55 years

old this year.  I am a husband, father, a

step-father, a grandfather.  Basically, just a regular guy. Being from a musical background (my mother was an opera singer with the West Bay and San Francisco Opera Companies) I was always into music.  At the early age of 5, when a Christmas coloring book page asked, “draw what you want for Christmas” and I drew my best 5-piece drum kit, everyone knew I was hooked. Growing up the youngest of three kids, my brother & sister who were just a year apart in age and super close, are 5 years older than I.  Therefore, I was constantly exposed at an early age to some of the best music being produced in the 70’s.  Being in 5th and 6th grade and being exposed to music like Boston, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel and of course Kansas.  My brother turned me on to Leftoverture when I was in 6th grade. It was about at this time, that I had started to shift my focus from sports, more towards nothing  but music! 

Inspired by bands like Kansas and drummer like Phil, I began to play drums in the 7th grade.  I took lessons for a brief time, but very quickly jumped to the drumset and was able to play along to my favorite records.  Continuing to teach myself over the years, playing along to these records. But although I am a drummer, I also love to sing and by far, my favorite singer of all time is YOU, Steve Walsh.  I always dreamed of being able to sing like you.  And although I can hang a little with some stuff and cannot touch some of the great music you put on record.  I eventually became the drummer and lead singer of a local 80s hair band, but in no way possess the gift that you had.  After my freshmen year in high school, it seemed I was destined to play music.  I was already in a local band that was playing local fairs and festivals, and I was getting better and better as a drummer and singer.  But in the summer of 79, my mother remarried and I was told we were moving to from California to Lubbock, Texas.  I was devastated. My brother and sister were old enough to stay here, so only I went with my mom and new step-father. We decided to drive to Lubbock, Texas over the curse of 7 days.  In that car I had with me a small cassette player and two tapes…Van Halen II and Kansas, Point of Know Return.  POKR was my jam.  That tape is the ONLY thing that got me thru that move to Lubbock.  I listened to every track over and over again.  Trying to sing just like you.  Songs like “Portrait” and “Nobodys Home” became anthems for me. Determined to learn all of these songs on the drums when I finally arrived in Texas.

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Fast forward to last year and catching the Miracles Out of Nowhere film and rekindling my love for Kansas.  I was so touched by the film I was in tears at the end when you guys went back to that spot and re-created the iconic photo. I will say, it made me sad during the film when you discussed not being proud of some of your work.  I honestly can understand what you mean, having gone thru a similar situation at a much smaller scale as one of the primary song-writers in my old 80s band. But for what its worth Mr. Walsh, many people talk about someone like a Steve Perry and call him “The Voice” and yes….he is amazing and also one of my all time favorites, but for me Mr. Walsh…there is no one that can touch your voice.  The soulfulness and power in which you sang. The passion that can be heard behind every note on those studio records…I mean, people just don’t deliver like that anymore.  Your voice and the songs you sang were a gift to us all. 

Your biggest fan

- Dennis Gast