By: Daniel L. Taylor Sr. dantaylorsr@hotmail.com On 5-08-03 my son, Dan Jr., and I were on our way home to Holland, Michigan from a used police car dealership in Kansas City, MO, a 12 hour trip one way, $175.00 shot, for absolutely nothing! But wait! It turned out to be very cool! We got off an exit in a little burg called Colfax, in Iowa, to get some chow at a Subway Sandwich chain. As I was in line to get my sub, I noticed a hip gentleman with an embroidered guitar, along with a name on his right front chest. I thought it was just a promo jacket and he was a fan. I almost asked him if he played guitar, as I am a guitarist myself, but I declined, as I thought it would sound dumb coming from a total stranger. As I sat down at a table kitty-corner from the man in the jacket, another man, near another table to my right, raised his voice and said, "Dick...you got everything you need?" I thought to myself, "Holy Cow...is it?" Then I leaned over to the guy, now sitting at the table to my right, and said, "Excuse me Sir, but is that Dick Dale the Master of Surf Guitar?" He replied, "Yes, indeed it is" and reached into his pocket and handed me 2 guitar picks with the Dick Dale Logo on them! I looked over to my left, got up, and was totally spastic! Dick saw me coming, smiled at me, offered his hand for a good shake and asked me my name. Then Mr. Dale invited my son and I to move over to his table to join him! My son (quick level headed thinking) beat feet to the attached gas station/store to get a disposable camera. The person sitting with Mr. Dale politely excused himself from the table to give us one-on-one time with Dick! I am thinking to myself, "I better not wake up from this dream!" As my son came back to join us, with the camera in hand, we ate and had a great conversation. Dick asked us where we were from and where we were traveling. I went on to tell him briefly about the cop car that we went to pick up in Kansas City, which turned out to be a total piece of junk. I will now be remembered by Mr. Dale as "The Cop Car Guy", really...he said that! Mr. Dale, who is very fit and looks fantastic for a man of 65 yrs. old, is a strict vegetarian, loves his Subway veggie subs, is into martial arts, loves animals and absolutely detests hunting! Mr. Dale raises tigers and lions at his home and is very knowledgeable about nature. We talked little about guitar, but I had to ask what gauge strings he uses on his Fender Stratocaster. His high E is a .016 and his low E is a .060. I cannot remember the other four strings. Dick said that it has a lot to do with the tone! The reverb sound that Mr. Dale perfected actually evolved into his guitar by wanting to fatten his voice on the P.A. system in the early years! We chatted about 1/2 hour and his road manager came over with promo photos and postcard type stickers printed with Mr. Dale's logo. He signed them personally to my son and me. Then I asked Dick if we could get some personal pictures with him. We got up and Mr. Dale put his arm around me like an old friend! My son took a few, then I took a few of them. Then Mr. Dale's road manager took a picture of us all! (Is this way cool or what!!!) Mr. Dale also signed my Subway cup! I have to say Mr. Dick Dale is the most down to earth, NON-egotistical, nice gentleman that you could ever meet. Very intelligent, perfect manners and very well spoken. He treated us like royalty! What a super guy! An event my son and myself will never forget! 
All Rights Reserved Surf Rock .org Home | About Surf Rock .org | Reviews | Articles Bands and Artists | Girl Bands | Music Gear | Information |