Here’s to Those Who Lead the Way: A Father’s Day Tribute

When it comes to family, there’s a feeling of connection that transcends generations, time, and distance. For the lucky ones, that connection involves music — playing it, singing together, sharing stories of memorable musical experiences, and introducing the next generation to our favorite artists and albums. Having music in our homes and in our lives reinforces what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Family does that too.
On this Father’s Day, Sweetwater employees would like to thank their dads who taught them the important lessons, inspired them to try new things, and instilled in them a lifelong love of music.

Arend Raby, Senior Director of Partner Marketing
My dad gave me my first guitar when I was a kid, along with a piece of paper with three chords drawn out. Thirty years later, I still have that guitar and recently restored it. He came from a very musical family and plays saxophone, piano, and guitar. He was really instrumental in getting me into music. When I was nine, my dad lost two fingers on his right hand in an accident. One was saved, but with limited mobility. The doctor, not knowing my dad was a musician, made a joke about him never being able to play, “It’s a good thing you’re not a musician for a living, ’cause you’ll never play a musical instrument.” So my dad relearned every instrument. That’s inspiring to me to this day.

Aaron Steele, Digital Marketing

My dad wasn’t a musician, but he tinkered with music all his life. He could play a little banjo, a little guitar, and a little piano, and he played them all by ear. When I was first learning to play, he would come in and help me figure out parts I was struggling with. I learned to play by ear through him. I’m probably most grateful that he passed on a love for all types of music, from Motown to Jimi Hendrix to the Beach Boys. My band covers Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” and when he’d come to our shows, he always requested it. It became one of his favorite songs in later years. My dad passed in 2016, but I think about him every time I play.

Kevin Thornbloom, UX Developer
Aside from being a fun-loving, tree house–building, all-around great dad, my father gave me a love for music as well. As far back as I can remember, I would often find him strumming an acoustic guitar. Later, my parents enrolled me in guitar lessons. This eventually led to me playing in a group where I met some lifelong friends. Thanks, Dad, for always being there for me, and for getting me started in music!

Tony Didier, Graphic Designer
In 1985, my dad penned a composition based on Isaiah 40, and in my eyes, it is his magnum opus. It is a five-movement piece that recounts the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming of Jesus. Dad wrote the song as a modern take on Handel’s Messiah, and as many great artists do, he wrote the entire song in one evening. He performed it for Christmas Mass that year, and in 1992 he recorded the song as a trio. Though he was satisfied with the recording, he was unable to realize his true vision of ultimately having a choir singing the song. In 2005, thirteen years later, Dad saw his vision come to fruition when he performed his masterpiece live with a full band, a choir, and a bell choir. It was wonderful seeing this all come together for him, but for me, the most special aspect is that he asked me to be the soloist. Since that first performance, we have now performed Isaiah 40 at Christmas Mass for the past 14 years, and last summer, Dad finally fulfilled his dream of recording Isaiah 40 with a choir. The picture is from the recording studio the day I laid down the lead vocals. The framed artwork is Dad’s original lead sheet that he gifted to his parents when he recorded Isaiah 40 for the first time in 1992. My Grandmom and Granddad Didier have both passed, so it now hangs in my parents’ house by my dad’s piano, and someday, it will hang in my home. The inscription says, “Mom and Dad, Thank you for the gift of music in my life! Love, Jim”
I too can say the same thing to him. Thank you for the gift of music, Dad! Love, Tony

Kent Sallaz, Sales Engineer
My dad, Bob Sallaz who is the Senior Manager of Fulfillment at Sweetwater, has always been instrumental in me playing music. He gave me (or possibly I took without asking) all his records. I have a deep love for Chicago R&B, the Beatles, and Clapton because of what he turned me on to. I’d say he’s my first musical influencer.

Derek Mauger, Digital Assets Coordinator
My dad bought a Gibson Les Paul after I was born, and growing up I always thought it was the coolest thing on the planet. I wasn’t supposed to play the guitar without my dad’s help, but I’d often sneak in and open the case just to look at it and maybe pluck a string. My dad noticed my fascination and helped me get started on guitar. Years later, after I started playing in bands and touring around, my dad gifted me that guitar. Now it is at my house, and I’ve caught my son sneaking into my office to get a look at it. I hope to pass it on to him the same way my dad passed that guitar to me.

Natalie Tauer, Affiliate Marketing Manager

In addition to being my father, Bill a.k.a. “The Mighty Willis” was my best friend, my hero, and for a short time, my boss. It’s hard to know where to begin this story — there are so many memories. Bill was a really talented keyboard player (he played in many bands, most notably the Cat’s Meow in the 1960s) and was an even better music products salesman. He spent the greater part of 30 years managing music store accounts in the Rocky Mountain Region for various manufacturers — there was never a shortage of instruments and pro audio equipment circulating in and out of our house.
Bill and I spent a lot of time in music stores and on the road together. Most of that time consisted of what he called “ear training,” which meant me learning who the best bands were, how to identify genres and time periods, instruments, effects, song structures, etc. For my 13th birthday, Bill got me a Rolling Stone magazine subscription and signed me up for guitar lessons because, apparently, piano, cello, and choir just weren’t enough.
We also went to a LOT of concerts together. One of my favorite memories was one summer when he was asked to be a judge at Red Rocks Amphitheater for Denver’s “Battle of the Bands.” When he got up to get a beer, I changed his scorecard so that my favorite band would win. I accidentally caused a tie, and the winning bands had to share the grand prizes. He looked at me and mouthed “Fredo” (a Godfather reference).
Bill was the sort of person who would walk into a restaurant and pause, listening to the house music, and say, “Do you hear that? Kenny G is playing off key.” He definitely had relative pitch. Before Bill passed away in December of 2013, he asked me to consider taking over his rep firm and working the territory. I was finishing up school for music business, working in music venues, and helping him out at the time, so I agreed. Those years of driving through the mountains eight hours a day with my car packed full of guitars, violins, mics, amps, and keyboards, walking into indy stores, chains, and e-commerce HQs — it was quite the experience. To this day, nothing makes me feel closer to him than long hours on the road listening to his favorite artists, such as Peter Gabriel, Rolling Stones, James Brown, and Van Halen. My career has continued to evolve in MI over the years, but nothing will ever change the fact that my understanding of music, products, and people stems from his teachings and commitment to raising me to be half as cool as he was.
I love and miss you, Dad. Every day.

Daniel Fisher, Director of Product Optimization

I’ve been playing keyboards since 1967, when I was five. My dad (Jack) would sit in our living room, in the dark, and listen to me play for hours, making appreciative sounds when I played something he really liked. Playing in complete darkness was incredible training for when I started playing in a Pink Floyd tribute band, where I was often onstage in the dark. My dad passed away (at 87) a few weeks ago, but I was able to drive to my hometown and bring a portable keyboard into his hospice room and give him a one-hour concert of his favorite songs. Although he couldn’t speak, he made the same appreciative sounds when I played his favorite parts. He died later that day, but it felt so good to give him that last concert.

Corinne Routh, Creative Photography Intern
When I was growing up, my dad always wrote my mom songs on the guitar or piano, and when I was really young, he would play guitar and I would sing into a candlestick and have my own “concert.” It was super cute. I started taking piano lessons, and my dad would help me practice songs every night after my lessons. While I attempted violin and guitar, I really loved piano the most. One of my favorite memories is listening to my dad play a really beautiful song and asking me who wrote it, then saying it was an original he wrote for my mom. My mind was completely blown because it was so beautiful.

Xavier Williams, Digital Marketing Analyst
As far back as I can remember, my dad would say to me, “Son, your grandfather would always tell me, when you hit deep water you better have your route picked out.” My dad told me this so much that I knew when he was going to say it, and I would mouth it to myself prior to him saying it. This is a true blessing, though, simply because he is a man of vision and sacrifice. And vision does not necessarily mean you can see it all, but you can see enough to take the next step.
I started playing music because my father is a professional saxophone player. Music assisted in the restoration of a relationship that was once damaged. Music has the power to mend some things together, and music played a role in that for my father and me.

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