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Hello Music
Lover,
Remembering Pete...February 8,
1929 - July 12,
2014.
Prentice 'Pete' Douglas was the
founder of the non-profit music
venue, The Bach Dancing &
Dynamite Society, located in Half
Moon Bay, California. He
presented jazz, classical and
world music concerts by the sea
for over 50 years before
suffering a fatal heart attack
and stroke on July 12, 2014. He
was 85. Pete continued to book
the music at his "house" until
the day he died.
Friendships sometimes grow in
unexpected places and with
unlikely people. My friendship
with Pete Douglas was one such
treasure to me, and I appreciated
the unique perspective he brought
to my life. His eccentricity
evolved out of the 50's Beat
Hipster Generation with their
Bohemian attitude and love of the
arts. The round beanie,
sunglasses, pipe and craggy
features gave him the appearance
of a mythic character that fit
well with his tireless telling of
musical tales.
I loved Pete not only for his
uniqueness, but because of his
endless support for live music,
especially jazz. He offered his
own home as a performance venue,
beginning literally as a small
beer joint on the beach, then
expanding and redesigning it over
50 years to create the ultimate,
intimate concert space seating
nearly 200. His non-profit
musical organization called "The
Bach Dancing & Dynamite
Society" was founded in 1964 to
present jazz, classical and world
music concerts by the
sea.
Video - Pete Douglas shares his
philosophy as a music presenter
Thirty years later in 1994 after
Warner Music Discovery released
my "Tigress" CD, Pete invited my
band to come up from LA to
perform at the Bach. He took a
chance on me as a relatively
unknown contemporary jazz artist,
because he said that he heard
passion and intensity in my
performance. That's what inspired
him the most. For me, the magic
of performing at his music venue
was unforgettable. The beautiful,
intimate setting and responsive
audience made this show one of
the highlights of my career as a
band leader thus
far.
Five years later in 1999, I
relocated to the Coastside, just
4 miles north of Pete's place. We
became friends -- going out to
hear live music together, trading
musical stories over lunch, even
roller skating on Wednesday
nights -- and I became determined
to help Pete create a living
legacy of The Bach Dancing &
Dynamite Society which would
endure beyond his lifetime. For
several months, I worked as
Pete's Director, helping to raise
awareness and funding for his
non-profit.
Once my musical career blossomed
in the San Francisco Bay Area, I
didn't have as much time to
devote to preserving the legacy
of Pete's performance venue. But
it was still my favorite place in
the world to hear jazz. For many
years, I had a "back door pass"
to come hear any band for free.
As a full time musician with an
unpredictable income, I cherished
that privilege.
In the summer of 2012, Pete
invited my newly formed tribute
band, Sonya Jason's TIGRESS, to
present a concert of jazz fusion
from the '70s & '80s. The
show was recorded live, and the
best songs of the evening will
soon be released as a CD. I
regret that I did not get to
present a copy to Pete as a
personal thank you. The recording
will now be dedicated to his
memory.
Pete Douglas was musicians' best
friend; a dedicated music
presenter who lived for the rush
of witnessing the creative
passion bursting forth from
artists and who nurtured a
performance space in which to
share that experience with
appreciative audiences. He lived
a good life, and he will be
greatly missed.
Let's toast to Pete with some
jazz by the sea!
Thursdays, July 17 AND July
24, 2014
7:00 - 10:00
p.m.
Burgers, Beer
and Jazz
Ritz Carlton Half Moon
Bay
Conservatory Lounge
One Miramontes Point Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
info and reservations (650)
712-7000
From smooth
jazz to great standards from the
American songbook, this tasty and
versatile group plays it cool and
classy but lively enough to get
your toes
tapping!
Featuring
Sonya Jason -
saxophones
Dina Rao -
special guest
vocalist
Allen
Leong -
keyboards
Rob Rhodes
- drums
And the music lives
on!
Cheers!
Sonya
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