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Above: Santa Paula homegrown musicians Deuce reprised their riveting R&B sounds that have made them county Battle of the Band winners during their set at the Melody Hall Music Festival where they mesmerized the crowd with a new song collection. |
Melody Hall Music Festival all that and more as
hundreds enjoy the celebration
June 10, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Melody is defined as a pleasing succession or arrangement of sounds; musical quality, the melody of verse; and as a rhythmically organized sequence of single tones so related to one another as to make up a particular phrase or idea.
Melody Hall Music Festival was all that and more Saturday turning a parking lot area adjacent to the Santa Paula Art Museum and the California Oil Museum into musical concert central where hundreds of people enjoyed a day of music, dancing, eating, museum visiting and more all to benefit the Santa Paula Historical Society (SPHS).
The idea to use music to tie into Santa Paula’s historical love and creation of music was the brainchild of Eddie Arguelles, a SPHS board director that worked with a committee including several musicians to plan the second annual celebration of good musical times.
Longtime SPHS President Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson said not to let the fact that the concert was free fool anyone into believing there was no monetary benefit for the event.
“We had numerous generous sponsors,” that donated as well as a portion of the income from the food trucks and Beer Garden, all popular stops during the more than nine hours of music.
The concert melded music, culture and history from child visitors to the free day at the Santa Paula Art Museum who were taught how to make their own hands-on musical instruments at an outdoor craft table and how to play them to the mix of music ranging from Big Band and country to Latin Jazz.
But the festival was also a tribute to the impact music has had on Santa Paula and a tribute, said Arguelles, to the musicians of Santa Paula, many now noted professionals.
John Procter, a musician that was the events emcee, was pleased at the turnout as well as the variety of music the different bands brought.
Procter, Santa Paula’s mayor, said, “The thing that is really amazing is that people have come from a long distance to hear the bands,” some with members Procter said he remembered from high school.
And, “It brings me back to my 1970 graduating class when we’d be out in the orchards,” partying down to various musical groups.
A bonus of course was Saturday’s perfect weather: “You really can’t beat Santa Paula for outdoor events,” said Procter. “It’s such a gorgeous day!”
“The bands are really high quality it’s a good variety of music,” said a male visitor from Camarillo who said he would prefer not to use his name.
He had arrived at about 2 p.m. to hear the Bob DeSena Latin Jazz, a band that did not disappoint musically or with his high-energy Las Vegas showmanship.
Seven bands played, students and professionals from Lovie’s Latin Dance and Jill Johnson Dance studios performed as did Xavier “Big X” Montes Angels’ on Harps/Strings of De Colores for a day when music filled the air almost nonstop.
Police Chief Steve McLean was talking to those attending the festival and Santa Paula Police Reserve Officer Alan Hernandez was enjoying the music and the crowd that included City Council members Jenny Crosswhite, Ginger Gherardi and Jim Tovias.
“Everybody is having a good time,” said Hernandez, “what more could you want?”
Beverly Rueckert of Camarillo wanted a place to sit a spell after she was lured onto the generous dance floor for some old-fashioned Big Band swing.
“I danced with Lovie’s instructor,” an experience Rueckert said she enjoyed so much, “I’m going to sign up for lessons!”
Larry Cossid of Santa Paula, a noted musician, opted to sit in the audience and enjoy the music...and the R&B Bombers impressed him.
It was the first Santa Paula appearance for the 10-piece band which proved it is a powerhouse of music with a melding of genres and styles that incorporated 1940s Big Band swing, modern blues, piano boogie and ’40s, ’50s and ’60s R&B with plenty of horns and a big-voiced singer.
“They have some incredible talent up there!” exclaimed Cossid.
The 24 x 36 foot dance floor kept dancers moving to the music that included the Charles Law Band, Deuce, Juano & Friends, Bob DeSena Latin Jazz, Fender Bros., R&B Bombers and House Arrest to end the evening.
But before the closing act took to the stage Henderson said she wanted to make a special presentation to Arguelles, who spent the day enjoying the music when he wasn’t busy making sure sponsors were comfortable in their special cabanas, greeting old friends including former history students he taught during a 36-year career at Santa Paula High School, and making new friends among the musicians.
“Eddie is ready to start working on next year,” Henderson told the crowd, “because we’re still trying to find a home,” for the society’s huge collection of photos, oral interviews, newspapers, documents and other memorabilia centered on Santa Paula’s history, including its music.
“Eddie’s brainchild,” said Procter, “came off perfectly!”
The Melody Hall Music Festival showed that as cultures evolved and melded to create a more inclusive society, music also changed as beats and rhythms that used to be heard only in particular countries or communities came together. The musical celebration was as diverse as the bands that played as well as the music-loving crowd that flocked to the festival.
Many who attended the concert from out of town said they planned to explore local restaurants and enjoy the ambiance of the historic Downtown when the festival ended.
“I just love music,” said Joyce Whitmore of Simi Valley, “and I just love this little town!”
