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31 July 2010 We'll miss you Steve J!
While fooling around on Facebook, I visited the page of my friend Steve Jacula of Old Plank Sonic Laboratories (he recorded the 12-song demo tape for my old band Alloy Jacks). I was puzzled by the strange messages his friends had been leaving -- things like ¡°my condolences¡± and ¡°hope you are in peace¡±. These are things you say to someone who has died, I thought to myself. After searching around a little more and corresponding with some of his friends, I learned that Steve had, in fact, died. I just couldn¡¯t believe it. I feel like my heart has been broken. Up till now, I think I had been extremely fortunate not to have lost any close friends. And although I hadn¡¯t seen Steve for at least ten years and only recently got back in touch with him through Facebook, I considered him a good friend. He had that effect on people.
I met Steve when I was 17 and living in Schaumburg. I had learned about his studio after learning that some local bands had recorded their CDs there. I found Old Plank and gave Steve J, which is how he always answered his phone, a call. He sounded like a really nice guy, and he charged only $35 an hour. I asked him what his favorite non-alcoholic drink was. He laughed and said Diet Dr. Pepper. On November 19, 1994, with our instruments and a 2-liter bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper in tow, Marty Kamysz, Tony Mainiero, and I drove to Naperville, IL and Old Plank Studio. It turned out to be a large house Steve was sharing with his friend Pat (I was delighted when Steve told me a couple years later that he had been doing well enough to be able to buy the house from Pat). When we checked out the basement where all the magic was to take place, we were impressed. It was a very cool studio.
We recorded the demo tape over several sessions between November 1994 and February 1995. It was my first time recording, and Steve was great to work with. I loved his studio; I enjoyed watching him set up the microphones and learned a lot of the basics of recording from him. I also got a kick out of the fact that he always had out a bowl of fresh veggies, Wasa crackers, and salsa for munching on (along with half gallons of Oberweiss milk in the fridge). At some point he told me that he loved kimchi. I brought over a huge jar the following session, which he dug into as if it were a salad. He recently reminded me that I also showed him how to use his rice cooker. If I remember correctly, he still had the thing in its original packaging when he showed it to me. After making the demo tape, I kept in touch with him, telling him about recordings I was trying on my own and getting tips here and there. I stopped by his home several more times to drop off recordings I¡¯d finished or to rent some of his gear. If there was a session going on, he¡¯d let me watch. I remember one time seeing a note posted to his refrigerator door asking visitors to please help him finish his milk. Of course, I was happy to oblige. When I think about Steve I really appreciate how generous he was with his time. Even though I was just a teenager, he always treated me like a serious client. He was always really patient with me, even when I took a little too much time trying to figure out what I was doing. He showed me how fun the recording process is. When Tony (the drummer) and I recorded our CD together in 1997, we¡¯d often think about what Steve would do whenever we got stuck on something. I always thought it would be fun to visit Old Plank someday and record something new with Steve. I¡¯m really sad I won¡¯t get that chance. Steve died in his bed a couple nights ago. He had suffered a stroke while sleeping. All of us who knew him think this really was the best way for him to go, although it doesn¡¯t make it any less shocking or tragic for us. The good ones always seem to go way too soon. I¡¯m incredibly touched that the last thing I heard from him was a couple weeks ago when he congratulated me on my marriage.
It really hurts that I can¡¯t go back in time and just give him a phone call to tell him how much he meant to me. And my story¡¯s just one. Imagine all the people he¡¯s touched during his years as a performing musician, engineer, producer, and teacher. Steve, you were a great guy. I hope you¡¯re enjoying your new gig. Here¡¯s something for the road.
Copyright
© 2002-2012 by Charles Ian Chun
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