A week ago today I received a phone call from a friend and client that Thomas Tomoser (Sr.) had passed away, and this evening my wife and I attended his funeral. What we experienced of his life’s story deserves a much fuller expose, so here is my best effort to provide that.

In describing Tom it’s actually hard to know where to begin since he wore so many hats throughout his life’s journey. I know I only know a portion of those from the stories he told, my experiences with him over the years, and also what was shared at his memorial. My introduction to Tom was back in 2000 when he contacted Tesco Productions to work with his music projects. Over the years those projects were wide and varied, from single vocals over a music track to full band recordings of the many songs he had written to reworks of cover songs. A few of the more special sessions had his and Rosmery’s young daughter in the studio singing on her own or in duet with him. Tom was consistently putting up new and reworked material on CD Baby under his record label Lone Eagle Records. He involved a number of other musicians that otherwise I likely would not have met. We also recorded radio programs that had local airing. As time passed the calls became fewer and the trips to the studio less often until finally it was just not feasible anymore.

But music wasn’t all I experienced Tom through. He had a love for wire controlled airplane models. This was something he had done with his father growing up and he still had some of those models. He would ask me at times to help him fly them, but I was never at the controls which would have been quite beyond my skills. We would go to a local park in Ralston that still has a circular asphalt track for flying line controlled planes so he could practice and then tweak/repair the planes. We even went to a competition out of state one weekend so he could show his old models and compete.

Yet the list of shared experiences is long. I was honored to attend the Naturalization Ceremony for his wife Rosmery – my first and only time to witness that moving event. There were a number of birthday parties with his family, friends and other musicians, live music events including a piano recital performance by their daughter and many other occasions of connection I know I’m not remembering. In conversation with one of his sons at his funeral I told him I’ve always said if there was a song that would capture Tom’s life it would be “My Way”. He sang that song with gusto and strength, and it was fittingly heard in the room displaying a small portion of his many music and media productions. Thank you Tom for bringing a lot of variety and friends into my life. You will be missed.

I wasn’t sure what to post this month and I need to give credit to my wife for prompting me in the direction I took here.

I would suppose since the beginning of time as persons have traveled this sod for quite a while, they tend to develop some level of being “less than thrilled” with at least some of those coming down the trail behind them. This perspective crosses cultures, careers and most any status of life we are in. However, I feel compelled to share some recent experiences that ran counter to those ideas. Several weeks ago I heard from a former client who was part of a Gospel quartet I made multiple recordings for. It was an unexpected contact made on behalf of his son regarding spending some time at the studio so he could acquire the necessary hours for high school graduation in conjunction with a community college associate degree. We all met and decided what was available would likely work and so this senior has been here varying hours for several weeks. I’ve been very impressed by the skill set he brings to the projects we’ve worked on, how quickly he picks up concepts, remembers something after being shown/told only once, and also humbled at how much I’m learning. Sometimes in less than an hour he’s figured out aspects of production software I haven’t found in 3 years! I told him that part of my struggle is that it seems I’m constantly on a learning curve that just keeps moving ahead – seemingly staying just beyond full reach most of the time. He’s younger and just naturally finds the new technologies to be much more intuitive and quickly grasped. There’s fresh, skilled input coming down the trail.

Two other events I was encouraged by this past week are not at all related to technologies, but to human relationships. The first concerns a grocery check out. I was in line behind an (even) older couple who were attempting to make payment on their purchase, followed by a young couple waiting patiently and then myself (who was not as patient as I could have been in all honesty). The lady trying to make payment was having difficulty with it being accepted, with multiple attempts being made with various cards and PIN entries all to no avail. After a few minutes of this the young lady ahead of me quietly asked the cashier how much the grocery amount was and handed him the necessary payment in cash. The recipients of this generosity and grace were somewhat confused (partly due I would imagine to some language barrier issues that likely had affected their payment difficulties), but they expressed gratitude best they could and the line resumed. The cashier thanked the young lady after the first couple had left and she was still very gracious about it all. No, the younger generations are not all about themselves.

The second event was more personal in that it directly affected my wife and me. We recently purchased a vehicle and upon arriving home there was an issue that surfaced that everyone was unaware of. When it was brought to the attention of the salesperson he asked me to bring the vehicle back so it could be looked at. I assumed since they had done everything they normally do to insure the vehicle was exactly as presented, that would be all their policies and procedures would be doing – just taking a look and letting us know what it would cost if we wanted to remedy it. However, in returning to the dealership and waiting for a time period beyond “just looking at it”, I eventually found out they were getting the repairs done at their expense and I was handed back the key with “no charge”. I was totally humbled in gratitude. The young salesman could have insisted it wasn’t his (or the dealership’s) problem. Instead he honored my wife and me with service far beyond our expectation. So, an additional “thank you” for another young person treating others with much respect and grace.

Be encouraged, there’s hope for our future.

40 years ago on January 1, 1986 Tesco Productions officially opened its doors. It’s been quite a journey. From humble beginnings complete with a folding chair as my perch I launched into my heart’s dream of being able to record and produce audio.

Everything in the studio was analog from the eight track 1/2″ reel machine (interestingly the very one I produced projects on during my college years), to the 1/4″ reel unit the final mixes and products were released from. The console had a whopping count of 10 channels and all the modules had to be patched together with RCA cables. But listening on occasion to early recordings made on all that gear, they sound pretty amazing actually. One thing that became evident very early was this: you made the most of what you had and the real determination of a product’s quality wasn’t the tools you had so much as your ability to use them (maybe a spillover from my farm upbringing).

The subsequent years have seen many technology changes which at times were and still can seem quite daunting, but I’m still learning and hope I never lose my interest and willingness to do so.

But what’s toys, rooms and accumulated stuff (there’s some old things that need to leave) without the plethora of people I’ve met and been privileged to work with. I’ve often said jokingly (but really mean it), “I have a standing habit of turning clients into friends.” What an amazing history of relationships which has resulted in attending many family events (both those of joy and sorrow), attending and supporting many music events, festivals and open mics, helping many non-profit organizations in getting out their message – even making an overseas trip as audio engineer for a video project, traveling through business connections across the country as front of house audio for conventions, working alongside an engineer who migrated from California to Omaha (I’d like to say because of me, but really it was his girlfriend) through which I learned so much (and still rely on for a 2nd set of ears), and who also re-introduced me to fishing (a literal lifesaver). I had other people I worked with here as additional engineers and voice and music talent. We also installed sound and A/V systems and provided technical services and the list could go on. The stacks of finished cassette and CD projects given to me from clients is quite large, and each represents a commitment on their part to entrust their talent and work to me. That is an honor I don’t take lightly. Multiple clients have received various awards from their recordings produced here over the years, and others have been able to step up to greater opportunities. I too have been graciously granted awards of appreciation and contribution along the way. The “walls of fame” and “hall of fame” on which many signatures have been enshrined is a monument to years of connectivity and relationship. There’s names of some who are now signed-off from this life.

I am blessed to have been granted these many years doing what I love (at least most days – there’s always some better than others, right?), and as long as the Lord gives me breath and ears to hear I plan to continue on until He makes it clear it’s time to step away. My hat’s off (yes, there really is a hat) to each of you who’ve been part of this journey and allowed me to invest in you as well. I sincerely thank you – which seems such a feeble response, but it’s what I can at least put into words.