Lucerne >> As a singer, when Randy McGowan was diagnosed with throat cancer four years ago, he was rightfully scared. When his doctor laid out the worst case scenario, he was terrified. And when the cancer was removed from this throat in a three-and-a-half hour laser surgery, and McGowan woke up not only able to speak, but to sing happy birthday to his waiting wife, he was ecstatic.
This took place just two years after the Swinging Chads officially formed as a band. Thankfully, McGown made a flawless recovery and two years later he was in the studio with the group to record their debut album, With the Swinging Chads. The album was released in May 2015. Now, the band is working on recording a second CD, though the musicians are far too experienced to call their work a sophomore effort.
McGowan himself has quite the musical history. His first gig fell on his birthday in 1966. At the age of 15, after playing the bass guitar for four years, he formed a band with his 14-year-old cousin. The two were heavily influenced by Little Charlie and the Nightcats and their solid Chicago Blues sound. The “little darlings” of their town, as McGownan called them, the duo performed everywhere, from church to school dances to concerts. In 1967 they won battle of the bands and two years later when McGowan graduated from high school, he chose to continue his already rolling career by studying music in college.
He kept himself plenty busy. By the 1970s he was with a band called Harley’s Comet, and they were playing all over the place. When they met Mike Bloomfield, the guitarist took McGowan and his band down to L.A. so they could make it big.
Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go as planned. The band broke up and McGowan moved back up North. It wasn’t all for naught though, because that was when he met his wife, and he’s been in the bay for the 40 years since.
In those four decades, McGowan never stopped playing. He recorded a CD, performed on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean and had a regular gig at Konocti Harbor Inn. And all that time he and guitarist Norman Collins had been friends, but they’d never played together. Then when McGowan needed to a musician to fill an empty spot for a show at Sho-Ka-Wah Casino in Hopland, he called Collins.
“He’s a wonderful guitar player. Norman puts his feet in and doesn’t retract anything he plays, he has his own style,” McGowan said. “He just stands on his own feet. He has his own credibility with what he hears and what he plays.”
For a while the casino gig was it for McGowan and Collins, but when McGowan decided to record another CD he asked Collins to come out to the studio. It was a bit of a snowball effect from there. The duo played a circuit around Winnemuca, Nevada., during which they were joined by drummer Ken Ingels, who also owns Russian River Records.
Not long after that, electric guitarist Johnny Young came out to Ingles’s studio to record a few songs with McGowan, Collins and Ingels. Their music sounded so good, they decided to record a few more, and then a few more after that. Pretty soon they had their first CD, With the Swinging Chads.
McGowan spent most of his life as a backing musician. The Swinging Chads’ debut album was the first recording opportunity he had to sing lead vocals and play guitar on his own original material.
While the Chicago Blues may have been his first genre, McGowan doesn’t play favorites. Over a lifetime of performing as a professional musician, he can say that he’s explored most that music has to offer. Bluegrass, gospel, country, jazz, classical, classic rock, even show tunes — he’s done it all. The only styles he’s stayed away from are rap and heavy metal. “I have a full grasp of anything that comes on my plate,” he said. “I think what it is as a bassist, that’s where my understanding in music comes. As a bassist I’m part of the engine room.”
His versatility has been nothing but an asset for his music career. Because he doesn’t only play for himself — he plays for the audience. “I want people to enjoy the experience … Music is something to be shared,” McGowan said. “I say, ‘what do you want to hear? You paid me to be here, I didn’t pay you to show up to my gig.’”
The Swinging Chads will be performing at The Northshore Community Center tonight for Halloween Blues and Spirits, a benefit for Hope City to rebuild homes lost in the Calyton and Valley Fires. “We’re here to help and hopefully our little effort will improve life for these people,” McGowan said.
Johnny Tsunami and the Hurricanes will also be performing at the benefit.
The event takes place from 6-10 p.m. In addition to music and dancing there will be Halloween contests and games, a silent auction and raffle, snacks and drinks, plus dinner for $5 and beer and wine for sale. Tickets are $10 and kids 12 and under are free. The Northshore Community Center is located at 3985 Country Club Dr. in Lucerne. For more information visit Lake County Fire Recovery Blues Benefits on Facebook.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
