Longtime local musician Eddie Lovato was a Jack’s House of Music customer from the mid-1950s until 2002, when this popular business closed. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s note: This is the eighth part of a series regarding the history of the “four corners” of Watt and El Camino avenues.

The northwest corner of Watt and El Camino avenues has for many years included a wide variety of businesses that serve the community.
This corner, which extends north along El Camino Avenue to Yorktown Avenue, is divided into six separate business sections.
The first of these sections, when heading eastward along El Camino Avenue, features the Farmer’s Daughter local specialty foods and café at 3405 El Camino Ave.
Located within the corner’s second section are Country Club Food & Liquor (3407), Capital City Loan & Jewelry (3409) and a store space recently vacated by Esoteric Records.
Continuing eastward is the corner’s third section, which is home to the following businesses: Pied Piper tavern (3415), Domino’s Pizza (3417), Teriyaki to Go (3419) and India Fiji Food & Fashion (3421).
The corner’s fourth business section heading eastward along El Camino Avenue is A Vicky Beauty Salon (3423), Massage Therapy (3425), Alterations to Go (3427) and Dan’s Vacuums & Sewing Machines (3429).
The final two business sections are occupied by a single business per section.
One of these businesses is J.R.’s Texas Bar-B-Que at 3435 El Camino Ave.
And sitting at the most extreme part of this corner is a Valero service station at 3449 El Camino Ave.
This area has also included businesses with Yorktown Avenue addresses.
One of the north area’s more notable businesses of the past, Jack’s House of Music, was operated for many years at 2528 Yorktown Ave.
The business was opened in about 1956 by E. Norton “Jack” Hyde (1916-2006), who resided for many years at 4512 Argonaut Way, near El Camino and Mission avenues.
For Jack, opening his own music store made perfect sense, considering his background as a musician and his employment history.
While growing up in Kansas, Jack began playing the saxophone and for some time during that era, he was a member of a traveling band.
Eventually, Jack, who also later learned to play the clarinet and piano, was on the road again, as he spent time as a traveling salesman for the band instruments company, C.G. Conn Ltd.

This 1961 Jack’s House of Music advertisement summarizes the offerings of the business’s Arden area and Carmichael stores at that time. Photo courtesy of the Lance Armstrong Collection

Jack later moved to San Diego with his first wife, Betty, and their son, Larry.
And while living in San Diego, Jack supported his family with his earnings from his employment as an employee at Thearle’s Music.
But it was in Sacramento where Jack spent the majority of his years as a salesman of musical instruments.
Among the earlier customers of Jack’s House of Music was the longtime local guitarist Eddie Lovato, who performs with his current band every week at senior dances held at the Mission Oaks Community Center in Carmichael.
“(Jack’s House of Music) is where I bought my first Stratocaster guitar,” said Lovato, who remained a customer of the store throughout the existence of this business. “That was back in either 1956 or 1957. I think it was 1957. Back then, there was hardly any traffic (in the area). At the time, I was playing at a little joint called the J & T (Club) at Franklin Boulevard and Fruitridge Road, right on the corner. I was playing with a trio. There were two guitarists (in the trio). I was one of the guitarists and Roy Haynes was the other guitarist. The drummer was Mel Stitt. Every club in Sacramento had a trio or quartet playing and we were the (house band) at the J & T (which was then owned by Joseph Morelli). (Haynes and Stitt) also went to Jack’s. I used to buy all my guitar strings there and all my (sheet) music. (Jack) was a beautiful person to deal with. He had all types of sheet music there, musical instruments, anything you wanted in music, he had it. Overall, I think (Jack’s) was a super music store.”
Another longtime local musician, Paul Narloch, who is the drummer of the local surf band, The VibroCounts, remembers visiting Jack’s House of Music and the nearby Sherman Clay & Co. at 2536 Watt Avenue, between Tower Records and Sam’s Plaza Hof Brau, during the 1960s.
“Those were the two big music stores in Sacramento at the time – Jack’s House and Sherman Clay,” Narloch said. “Jack’s House of Music was real popular and a little more high priced. That’s the first time I saw a Fender Telecaster (and a) Fender Esquire (was in the 1960s at Jack’s). (Jack) would have real high priced stuff and we were like, ‘Wow, look at that. That’s not a Stratocaster. That’s an Esquire or that’s a Telecaster.’ Surf bands would come in. They had Fender Stratocasters, Ludwig drums, Slingerland (drums). Sherman Clay, which is where I got my early drums, they were still known as a piano store and gave classical music lessons. When The (Rolling) Stones and The Beatles and all that came out, (Sherman Clay) started doing like a rock thing. People would come in with their old drums sets and guitars. They were still doing the classic piano thing at Sherman Clay, but they had all kinds of guitars and amps. That’s where the hip musicians and the surf people would hang out.”
Other early north area music stores included the California School Music Service and Ye Music Shoppe, which were both located at various times in Town and Country Village.
A 1971 advertisement for Jack’s House of Music included the following words: “Jack’s House of Music. For quality instruments and all musical needs, band instruments and accessories, pianos, radios, TV(s) and phonographs, records and sheet music, instrument repairing.”
The store was also renowned for renting out many musical instruments, mainly to young music students of area schools or for private instruction.
Jack, who was a member of local Elks and Masonic lodges, also enjoyed playing music with other musicians. His musical resume included performing in a Shriners band.
Some longtime local residents may recall that other Jack’s House of Music locations were established in the 1960s – first at 3251 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Sacramento (1961-1962) and then at 6749 Fair Oaks Blvd., near Carmichael Park (1962-1964).
Much later during the history of his business, Jack opened another Jack’s House of Music store in Roseville.
In 2002, to the disappointment of generations of Sacramentans, Jack, who outlived his second wife, Mae, closed his longtime popular north area store.
Although Jack’s House of Music ceased existing a decade ago, the memories of this business remain strong in the minds of many people who fell in love with this store at some point during its nearly half-century of serving the musical needs of its customers.

Parmys (Muse) Weinberg, a 44-year resident of Carmichael, has had a lifelong love for music. And although she did not grow up in Sacramento, Calif. or even on the West Coast, she developed an undying love for our state’s capital city.

CARMICHAEL PIANIST Parmys Weinberg has built a longtime career as a musical performer in the Sacramento region. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Weinberg, 76, is a regular performer in the Eddie Lovato group, which performs lively classic music at Friday afternoon senior dances at Carmichael’s Mission Oaks Community Center.

The Eddie Lovato Group

Those who are familiar with these dances know that Lovato’s group brings many smiles to the faces of seniors who enjoy dancing to the band’s performances of many popular tunes of the past.

The band provides music for such ballroom dancing as Latin, fox trot, waltz, samba, rumba, cha-cha, tango and swing.

Although the lineup of Lovato’s group has changed throughout the years, one familiar face in the band for the past 11 years has been Weinberg.

Altogether Weinberg, who is a Louisiana native and an accomplished pianist, has been performing at Mission Oaks dances for the past 16 years.

Prior to joining Lovato’s group, she played for five years at the community center dances with the Bob Hinton Orchestra.

THE EDDIE LOVATO GROUP features (left to right) Lovato, guitar and vocals, George Cecil, drums, Charlie Hull (substitute) saxophone and clarinet, and Parmys Weinberg, piano. The regular saxophonist and clarinetist for the band is Bob Noren. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Favorite song

In addition to the many nationally and internationally known songs that Lovato’s group plays, the band also performs a song that expresses Weinberg’s deep love for the capital city.

The song, which is simply called, “Sacramento,” is a favorite among Mission Oaks dancers.

Weinberg, who wrote the song in the 1990s, always enjoys the positive responses that she receives each time she plays the song at the Carmichael dances.

When asked how a Louisiana native became so inspired to write such a pro-Sacramento song, Weinberg explained that she not only fell in love with the city after moving here, but she has an even deeper connection to the place.

“I have to say that my credentials for (writing the song) are positively respectable, because my grandfather’s brother, Edward Muse, who was also from Louisiana, found work for the California Highway Commission (in Sacramento on Aug. 19, 1918),” Weinberg said.

Edward Muse

EDWARD M. MUSE (1874-1944) began working in Sacramento in the early 1900s. / Photo courtesy, Parmys Weinberg

But 14 years before he became employed by the state, Muse, who studied at the Art Students League and the Academy of Industrial Design in New York City, was involved with work in Sacramento. During these years, he was involved in the commercial art field in the capital city, as well as in Stockton and San Francisco.

While working for the state, Muse designed the official emblem for the California State Employees Association and the official seals for seven state departments. These departments were the Department of Motor Vehicles, the California Highway Patrol, the Toll Bridge Authority, the California State Water Authority, the Division of Forestry, the Division of Highways and the Department of Public Works.

Muse also supervised many State Fair exhibits of the Department of Public Works and was involved in the planning and promotion of beautification projects on several Capitol properties.

Among these projects were a proposed pioneer memorial that was intended to be placed at the entrance to the Capitol and a series of large oil paintings of wildlife scenes and early California.

At least one of these paintings was completed. The painting, which depicted a scene of a bewildered fawn standing alongside a doe that had been killed by a hunter, was hung beside the Capitol’s north staircase.

Muse, who served the state for nearly 24 years, passed away at his home at 2314 26th St. on Jan. 3, 1944, just five days prior to his 70th birthday.

Weinberg, who lives in the same Carmichael house that she moved into with her husband and two young children in 1967, said that she knew very little information about her grandfather’s brother when she arrived in California.

Weinberg’s curiosity led her to contact the commission regarding Edward Muse in 1974. And fortunately for Weinberg, the commission was able to provide her with some details about her late local relative.

Chico connection

Weinberg said that she has also investigated the life of her grandfather, James Holcomb Muse (1869-1920), who also lived in California.

“My grandfather is buried in Chico,” Weinberg said. “He was a pharmacist up there. He followed his brother out here (to California). He died up there from an abscessed tooth. (After James’ death), his wife and my father, who was nine, moved back to Louisiana. That’s why we really didn’t know too much. My dad only lived to be 52 and he didn’t get to pass on that kind of talk. So, I just sort of investigated after I moved out here.”

Although she did not learn as much as she would have liked to about her family history during her childhood, Weinberg, who was one of the five children of James Edward and Vera (Kennedy) Muse, achieved an appreciation for music at a very young age.

Family love of music

Weinberg’s parents had a great love for music. Her mother played piano for the Eastern Star during her younger years and had experience as an actress, and her father had a great ear for music and would often sing to Parmys when she was a little girl.

While living in a home with her own immediate family and some of her older cousins and an aunt, Weinberg would observe the piano lessons of her extended family members.

Remembering these moments, Weinberg said, “I wanted to do everything they did (on the piano). And I would try to pick out their songs when the music teacher left them.”

Britney Spears’ family classmates

Weinberg, who spent the earliest part of her life in the small town of Tangipahoa, La., explained a bit of music-related trivia with a link to her childhood.

THE CITY SHE LOVES. Parmys Weinberg sings her song, “Sacramento,” during the Eddie Lovato group’s performance last week at Carmichael’s Mission Oaks Community Center. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

“I went to school three miles up the road, after the fourth grade, in Kentwood, which is the hometown of the famous (pop singer) Britney Spears,” Weinberg said. “And I went to school with her grandparents. Her grandmother was (Emma) Jean Forbes (Spears) and her grandfather was June Austin (Spears). We’re talking small town here. I didn’t know Britney. I only knew her grandmother and her grandfather. I was gone when she came to fame.”

Weinberg eventually attended Southeastern Louisiana College – today’s Southeastern Louisiana University – where she majored in music education with an emphasis in piano and voice. She later used her education to teach in a vocal school in Colorado.

Local pianist

Since moving to Carmichael, Weinberg has used her abilities as a pianist to work in many music-related jobs.

This experience includes playing piano at Aldo’s Restaurant, La Posta Mexican Food restaurant and at Thares and Crockett studios for master ballet classes.

And last year, Weinberg ended her 14-year employment as a pianist at Biba restaurant.

In addition to her work with the Eddie Lovato group, Weinberg plays the piano with the trio, Nice ‘n’ Easy, led by Bob Noren, every other Saturday for dances at The Station in Roseville.

With a grin on her face, Weinberg said, “All of my jobs are music related. I don’t know how to do anything else, except make gumbo.”

‘Sacramento’

LYRIC CITY. Parmys Weinberg wrote her song, “Sacramento,” as a tribute to the city that she grew to love. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

In returning to the topic of her song, “Sacramento,” Weinberg said that through her love for the capital city, she was inspired to write the song.

“My second husband died in 1994 and I was thinking about moving back to Louisiana,” Weinberg said. “I thought of all the music people I’ve built up knowing here and I like it here so much and I just don’t want to go back.”

Instead of returning to Louisiana, Weinberg remained in California and wrote her Dixieland jazz-style song about the capital city for the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society.

Although the jazz society, as well as the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, who received a recording of the song, did not use the song in any manner, Weinberg said that she still has high hopes that the song will one day be purchased and used for a special purpose.

lance@valcomnews.com

It has undoubtedly been a long time since that golden age of dancing that is remembered so fondly by the older generations of today. But fortunately for those who have a recollection of this era, Carmichael’s Mission Oaks Community Center is assisting in the efforts to make these times seem a little less a part of the past.

Eddie Lovato (right) and his group perform at last Tuesday’s senior dance at the Mission Oaks Community Center in Carmichael. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Certainly nothing can replace those good old days when legendary band leaders such as Glenn Miller, Harry James, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Count Basie were delivering their music to countless numbers of people.

This music, which led to other memorable music of the era of those who are now in their 60s or older, was synonymous with one common theme – dancing.

Bi-weekly dances

In understanding the importance of dancing in the lives of today’s seniors, the Mission Oaks Community Center at 4701 Gibbons Drive maintains its tradition of offering bi-weekly dances for seniors, as well as anyone else who might like to join them.

Every Tuesday and Friday, from 1:15 to 3:45 p.m., the community center transforms into arguably the region’s best and most popular senior dance venue.

Meyer Tuplei (right), shown dancing with a female partner, said that at 93 years old, he still feels good on the dance floor. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Supporting this view is Winnie Pollock, a regular of these dances.

“This is one of the best places for seniors to come to dance,” said the Scottish-born Pollock, whose longtime dancing partner is simply known as “Dancing Dan.”

Dancing is joyful

Nancy Pritchard, recreation specialist for the Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District, said that the center brings much joy to those who attend the dances.

“They love the dances,” Pritchard said. “They can socialize, exercise, dress up and have a fun time. And they’re reliving their youth with their music and they laugh, they talk, they dance, they have a ball.”

Although one might have the impression that these senior dances simply consist of a couple dozen people sparsely scattered about a large dance floor, this is far from reality.

Although the center features a large, wooden dance floor, the floor is consistently filled twice per week with about 100 or more dancers, many of whom seldom miss a single dance at the center.

While not all seniors at these dances maintain the same level of dancing, almost all attendees of the dances have the same degree of enthusiasm for dancing. And with this passion for dancing, these dancers, whether they realize it or not, are demonstrating a fine message to other seniors that one is never too old for dancing.

A couple dances at last Tuesday’s senior dance at the Mission Oaks Community Center. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Feet keep moving

A prime example of the energy that dancing brings to those participating in these dances is perhaps best portrayed through the words of a regular attendee of these dances, 93-year-old Meyer Tuplei.

“I can barely walk, but when I get out there and dance, I can’t stop my feet from moving,” said Tuplei, who began dancing in about 1937.

While attending last Tuesday’s dance, Tuplei explained that one of the reasons his feet move so freely when he dances at the center is due to the quality performances of the four to five-piece Eddie Lovato group.

Great music

Providing music for such ballroom dancing as Latin, fox trot, waltz, samba, rumba, cha-cha, tango and swing, the group, Tuplei said, is “very good.”

“The orchestra here plays so many great songs and my favorite song that they play is the song that they play at the end of this dance,” Tuplei said. “It is so good I almost cried. Their arrangement (of this song, which is called “Dream”) is excellent. It’s so romantic. I love it.”

Another fan of Lovato’s group is Bill Reiff, who regularly takes a shuttle bus to attend the dances and has even paid to travel to and from the dances via taxi.

Fair Oaks residents Jack and Norma Kersten are among the many people who enjoy attending bi-weekly dances at the Mission Oaks Community Center. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Reiff, who grew up in Detroit and first danced in Sacramento at the Dante Club in 1975, said that Lovato has a great understanding of the music of his era.

“In the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, we learned to swing dance and do the waltz and fox trot,” Reiff said. “All of these people who come here, they’re all dancers. The beat that this band plays is the one they learned to dance to. This is one of the only places that you’ll find someone to dance with that dances the way you do. The generations now don’t have this dance beat.

“There are songs that have no dance beat in them. They may be beautiful songs, but they have no dance beat – nothing that makes you feel like dancing. Eddie puts that beat in the music that makes you feel like dancing. He understands the music that’s needed (for dancing).”

Lovato, who has been a dance instructor since 1955 and has played live music since 1960, provides music for the Tuesday dances, while another group plays live music at the Friday dances.

Great exercise

Among those attending last Tuesday’s dance were Fair Oaks residents Jack and Norma Kersten.

In regard to the health benefits of dancing, Jack said, “Walking is better than anything and dancing is better than walking.”

Senior dances are held at the community center every Tuesday and Wednesday. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

But obtaining exercise is only a part of the reason that the Kerstens enjoy dancing.

The main reason is their love for dancing, in general.

Both Jack and Norma have memories of dancing in earlier times in Sacramento.

Jack, who was once an Arthur Murray dancer, has been dancing since the 1940s and once danced to the music of Harry James at the Aerojet Recreation Center.

Dancing memories

Norma, whose favorite dance is the jitterbug, recalls dancing at the Trianon Ballroom, above the Senator Theater at 9th and K streets, at Mather and Travis air bases, at the roller rink at 9th and R streets and on the upper floor of the bowling alley at Watt and El Camino avenues.

Southern California natives Joe and Rose Thomas, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 25, also have fond memories of dancing during the earlier years of their lives.

Dancers show off their costumes at a recent Halloween-themed senior dance at the Mission Oaks Community Center. / Photo courtesy of Mission Oaks RPD

“One of the first dances I went to was Lawrence Welk at the Aragon Ballroom (in the Ocean Park district of Santa Monica),” Rose said. “I was a teenager and that was an old person’s dance. And then when we first started dating, we went to see the Ink Spots.”

Joe, 80, said that during the earlier years of his life, he danced to the music of Harry James, the Dorsey brothers and Glenn Miller.

When asked why he enjoys attending the Mission Oaks dances, Joe said, “It brings back memories.”

And sharing her interest in the dances, Rose added, “We love the dances. It just feels like one big party twice a week.”

For additional information about the bi-weekly dances at the Mission Oaks Community Center, call (916) 972-7371 or visit the Web site www.morpd.com.

lance@valcomnews.com