I started out in music as a reluctant accordion player at the age of six. By the time I was twelve, paper route money allowed me to purchase a Farfisa Combo Compact organ, a Fender Tremolux amp and a Shure mic. I joined a group that was being formed by some friends from Chula Vista Junior High that we called "The Capiers" (due to the fact that we wore black satin capes with spiffy red lining). I was surrounded by Geoff Uda on guitar, his brother David Uda on vocals, Norman Koba on bass and Kobe Kobayashi on drums. Being the only Caucasian in the group never occurred to me (being too young to remember Pearl Harbor), although I did pick up a life-long addiction to fried rice from Mrs. Uda's great cooking. Since I could play the solo from  "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals (with surprisingly few mistakes), I thought of myself as quite the keyboard master. Alas, in 1964 it was not as "cool" to play keyboards as it is today, and I longed to be like my new hero from Liverpool, Paul McCartney. More early morning pedal-pushing allowed me to buy a bass guitar, and, with some help from my guitar-playing-next-door-neighbor, Jim "The Big Co" McDonald, I attempted to learn. We soon formed a group called "The Kicks," with Robert Taylor on drums and Mike Cramer on lead guitar. The Kicks became a staple at Chula Vista parties, school dances and the occasional gym dance. It was at one of the Gym Dances that I was approached by Rick Randall and Chris Drake who were forming a new group with drummer Carl Spiron called "The Descendants." The group only lasted about five gigs before the talented Rick decided to try something else. He did, however, introduce me to a neighborhood friend named Doug Latislaw who had a really great little combo called "The Generations" AND was currently looking for a bass player. I had heard that these guys were "very professional" and had even gone "on tour" last summer. I was headed for the big time for sure!  After a practice (or was it an audition?) with the group at Chuck Pepitone's house, I was in the band.

Thus began a musical odyssey of over ten years with some of the most talented musicians that I have ever met. I remember the 1967 Summer Tour as one of the best times in my life. I was out on the road with my new best friends and, at least for the first week, "Big Frank"  (my dad and hero). To this day, we talk about the time we spent together that summer. I remember building huge, blue sparkle covered speaker cabinets with chrome mesh speaker grilles, finishing just in time to leave for the first date of the tour.

NOTE: On the way there, I heard "The Legend of Billy Jo" for the first time. I have later visions of matching Fender Coronado guitars, Fender Super Reverb guitar amps and my Fender Dual Showman amp with a 2-15 cabinet, all with JBLs!  We even had two (count 'em!) managers, as Dwight Squibb kept us working and Wayne Collins kept us in line. I remember the Mormon Dances we played - no colas and no objectionable lyrics or songs!

After Chuck left (that Yoko thing), we became a three-piece and changed our name to "Stench" (I bet our parents were so proud!). We even had a song about it.

Unfortunately, I had to cover a lot of rhythm during Doug's guitar solos and soon mild-mannered Greg had become "The Yil - Master of the Four-Stringed Lead Guitar."  There, I've said it, and I'm not proud of it. When I hear old band recordings, I cringe and think... "Paul McCartney would NOT be pleased."

Most Embarrassing Moment:
At a special assembly at Bonita High School, a captive and seated audience laughs uncontrollably as my voice decides to yodel out the final, "Come on baby light my FI(crack)AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! "

Best Memories:
First bass guitar- $120.00
First paying gig with a band-  $10.00
Spending some of the best years of my life with my most enduring friends - Priceless!

Coming soon to the Tacoma website: Yil Recalls The Tacoma Years...