#41 Gary Hobbs – #42 Ramon Lopez
In 1976, I began my official academic journey towards an official degree in music performance. My first visit to Seminole “Junior” College (SJC) aka – Seminole State College, was to sign up for an adult education piano class. Somehow, I ended up visiting the portable band room where the jazz band was rehearsing. I recognized guitarist, Charlie Robinson. He was about to graduate and continue to FTU (aka) University of Central Florida.
My casual visit to Seminole evolved into a 16-month dive into academic studies towards my AA degree. At the age of 26, I felt like an old-timer amongst the recent high school graduates.
The music program at Seminole was the best in Central Florida. (Thanks to Doc Bill Hinkle) There are many former students from that program that excelled in music, as educators and players. I arrived during the final construction of the Fine Arts building. There were new offices, theatre department, choir hall, piano labs, practice rooms, band room and performance auditorium.
For the auditoriums inaugural concert, Doctor Hinkle brought in the Stan Kenton Orchestra. I had a seat down front, as the band set up and prepared to get a sound check. I was unfamiliar with this group. I’d heard of it, but had zero reference towards the style of this big band. Playing drumset was Gary Hobbs. Ramon Lopez played a single conga drum.
I heard them play several charts. It was an enormous fat dark wall of sound. Stan carried his own 28” Zildjian ride cymbal.
A few years later, I played a music store clinic featuring Ramon Lopez. Sponsored by the Latin Percussion Company. Jazz organist, Clarence Palmer was also on the gig. Ramon could swing and groove with one drum. Gary Hobbs played in the Kenton band 1975 through 1977. Badaboom