The Argus from Fremont, California • Page 74

Joe Bruhl was teaching them then and he's teachingthem now! and they re learning their music from A to G. The Shraders (Marguerite, Suzie and Ken) are among his latest enthusiastic students music man Just imagine: there is a momentary hush throughout Brightside Country. Then, at the count of "four," a mighty concert band, 61700 strong, bursts.into the strains of the "Battle. Hymn of the Republic." Impressive? You bet your life it is and even more impressive is the fact that it would be reality if all of Joe Bruhl's local students, and present, were assembled for one mass performance. All 'em! Remember 1950? "Oh My Papa," crooned by Eddie Fisher was heard above the whirr of milkshake machines in the drive-in restaurants along "The Strip." And, in the loft above Jack Feinstein's Drug Store in San Leandro's Pelton Center, Joe Bruhl and his compatriot, Ted Johnson (present proprietor of Music unlimited) were teaching "Oh My Papa" and all the other hits of the fifties to the fledgling musicians of Brightside Country.

The road that brought Joe to Pelton Center was long and colorful. Piano teaching at age 15 in Nebraska, a touring job with Russ Henegar whose fame as first chair trumpet player for John Phillip Sousa gave prestige to the "Territory bands" he led. 1934. "I'll Follow My Secret Heart" was the hit song and Joe and his beloved wife followed their's to California and away from the terrible drought and dust storms of the mid-western states. They settled in the Bay Area and leased the old Cook's and Baker's Hall in San Pablo for a music Nights were spent, playing in clubs and hotels throughout the area.

Remember the night life in -the pre- World War II years? The Actors Equity dub, the Zanzibar Club, Tip Top. Club Deuville. Club New Yorker. Silver Cafe, By Pqt Davis Wonderbar, Rancho San Pablo. Joe played them all -and more.

He was playing at the St. Marks Hotel's Red Lion Club in 1935. a favorite mecca of east bay sports personalities. The first time Livermore boxer Max Baer walked in following his September defeat by Joe Louis, Joe struck up a lilting version of "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling." Had mighty Max been with less than a warm sense of humor, 6.700 musical careers might not have included Joe Bruhl! World War II. The Remarkably, Joe was assigned to special services in the Air Force, and spent five years playing in.

and leading stage bands for Uncle Sam. His tours on the circuit and the Stagedoor Canteen gave him opportunity to work with such notables as Kay Kayser, Duke Ellington, Basil Rathbone, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyk, Ann. Sheridan, and many more. At one point, in Tennessee, he worked with San Leandro's Frank Bettencourt, music arranger for Jan The war ended and Joe came marching home to Dude Martin's Round-up Gang, a live Western show on KYA-TV at six o'clock every morning. That's where Joe became associated with Ted Johnson and so.

when the show moved to Hollywood. Ted and Joe moved to Jack Feinstein's. loft in 1950. It didn't take long for the popular pair to build up a large clientele, and by 1953 they had out grown their limited space. By chance, one of Joe's students, Elsie Martin, was (and still is) in real estate.

There was an old farmhouse on 144th and East 14th with a 75 foot frontage. The $12.000 price was right and "Music Unlimited" was bom. The first facelift was a coat of fire engine red paint, evok- ing whistles and promptly giving rise to the new establishment's nick-name, "The Little Red School House." Next came the slogan signboard whose weekly bits of wit and whimsey were a landmark on East 14th for the next 20 years. In 1958. Joe and his famous signboard moved to 1 his present location at 16563 East 14th to expand teaching, facilities.

The walls are covered with photographs of years of music pupils. have grown up and sent their moppets to Joe for instruction in guitar.or piano. At least 32 have gone on to active musician's union membership. Some are performers and teachers. Many are well known in the music world: Paul Carrol, Dennis Mas- tentoneo.

Doug Torres, Glenn Deardorff. Steve Erquiga and so many more. Many play only when they are happy: or sad; or alone. Some, perhaps, haven't tried music for years, but have a deeper appreciation for other's music because of their early training from Joe. Paul Covarclli.

guitar instructor at San Lorenzo Music Center and performer in Pleasanton grins remembering the bygone years when Joe called him "the bird- watcher." Seems Paul, for a while, paid more attention to the nesting birds than to his lessons. Times have changed though. Paul's long flowing hair is in gentle contrast to the close cropped youth on Joe's portrait wall. Anibd Paul is a serious and professional musician. His first eight years of music lessons were with Joe.

He says: "If it wasn't for Joe. I'd have missed out on a lot of music in my life!" Multiply that statement by 6.700 and thensome. All together now: at the count of four: "Thanks. Joe." 'Sunday; 1974.