The joint jumped with the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino, Billy Joel plus a dash of Sinatra and Reba McIntyre tossed in to spice up the already boiling stew of original rock and then some. Yes, the joint was jumpin’.

Actually, the music was so hot nobody noticed the chill of an October breeze drifting in from the Pacific Ocean. If you like Elvis, The Coasters, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks, Credence Clearwater or the Eagles you would have had more to digest than at a Thanksgiving Dinner in New England. These two guys are so talented I wondered why I’d never heard of them, so I began asking questions.

Neil began tinkling the ivories at age 4 or 5. His grandmother was a resident of Hemet and when he visited her, his fingers went directly to her upright Piano and there was born a true musician.

He explained, “I knew my fingers were gonna do something more than holding a shovel or pitchfork. L was born to play the Piano. Although I didn’t major in music, I was beginning to be seriously involved with music while in high school.”

After graduation, he began to play with different local bands throughout Orange County. “I was born and raised in Anaheim. I began to be known as the kid on the Piano, so I began to get lots of local gigs.

“I did a lot of work for Disneyland. That’s where I met Scott Bruce who was the official ‘Elvis’ for 15 years. He took me under his wing and taught me a lot about showmanship. I owe him a lot.”

Neil also toured with a group known as, “Cash, Killer and the King.” Johnny, Jerry Lee and Elvis. “We toured the country – the Nevada Clubs, Laughlin, Vegas and Mesquite, expanding into the Midwest and South. They loved our show in Mississippi and Louisiana because they were all born and raised Southerners; he admits to loving Swing and Country. “One of the greatest things about musicians is how they understand each other no matter the genre. I get requests from all generations. Sinatra or Little Richard. I keep tuned to the generational music progression.”

He no longer resides in Orange Country. “I recently moved my family to Menifee, a town nearby to Hemet.”

The COVID virus has restrained musicians in California. Lately, he has been performing in Arizona and Nevada. “Places I’ve had relationships with in the past that are still open. Right now, there are not many entertainment options in California. This is our first time at the Derby and the reception has been awesome. I think it is a great idea this ‘Piano under the stars. It is quite unique. I’m looking forward to coming back in the near future.”

His sidekick, Guitarist Travis Daggert, is a product of nearby Moreno Valley. His father was a Pastor, so his musical education began at age 12 in a church. He’s been working with Neil the past few years and they blend well together.

Everybody in the entertainment business, either artist or club owner, is struggling. Jesse Vivanco, the genial owner of Derby’s, has managed to survive the pandemic so far. Many club owners have shuttered their doors. A few have kept the home fires burning. Just sayin.’

rustystrait@gmail.com

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CLINTON CHARLES NAVRKAL, JR was an avid skateboarder from his school days until his life was taken from him by a freak skateboard accident while visiting his girlfriend’s family in a small town in Tennessee more than 2,000 miles from his home in Hemet.

A graduate of Alessandro High School in Hemet, he was employed at the Valley Academy. All of his friends knew him simply as Clint. He was only thirty years old and in many ways still a kid gliding about town on his beloved skateboard. However, in many ways, he was an entrepreneur and businessman.

He was the sole owner of Make An Impact Productions in Hemet where he consulted with rock bands, was a great videographer and photographer. When bands in the area wanted to video a gig or promo, they called Clint. 

In an interview with his sister, Rosemary, I learned that this was not his first serious head injury.

“My brother was a talented vocalist and keyboardist. Sometimes it was difficult to tell which he loved the most.”

Kevin Corbeil, a former band member with Clint and currently and currently with the Chris Gates band, Child of War. “I met Clint about nine years ago when I was playing in a metal band. “We met up in a show where we were both performing. As it often happens in the music industry, we just began a conversation and our friendship grew from there. He was a happy guy, friendly and likable. I never knew him as a young man. He was smart and playing keyboard in a band called, “Burning the Empire.” Later we both were doing our thing with a band called “Dimensions of Fear.” We played together for three years and I got to know him pretty well.

“We sort of lost contact for a while when he moved up to Washington state but took back up as friends when he returned to Hemet. He never talked much about his family, but he appeared to come from a middle-classed atmosphere.

“I knew about his previous brain injury. He’d had a rough time but finally recovered. However, the recent injury compounded the previous one, and he didn’t recover. I remember that when he was assaulted it took him a while to recover because he had so much to relearn.

“We are putting on our fundraiser as his friends in the music business and any monies raised will go directly to his family.”

What exactly is going to happen tonight?

Kevin continued. “It is a celebration of his life, a celebration of all the awesome things we can remember about him.”

Some of the bands that will be performing are:

Chris Gates’ “Child of War.”

“101 Proof” – a Pantera cover band.

“The Sea is Mine”

“Modern Racket.”

There may be other bands, depending on whether they are committed to pre-scheduled gigs elsewhere.

Date: Friday, August 8th

Showtime: First band at 7:30 PM

Lactation: The Derby Bar and Grill – 2860 W. Florida Avenue, Hemet, CA 92545

There is no tighter fellowship than that between young musicians. When they have a cause, they give until it hurts. A good example of what friendship is all about, wouldn’t you say? Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

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