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Don Cranston: Electric Guitar
My first experience with music was in the early 1960’s when I watched Dick Clark on American Bandstand. That’s when I knew I had to play the electric guitar. I wanted to be just like the lead guitar player in the band because, don’t you know, that’s how you get all the girls. I picked up my first guitar and loved playing it right away. Being left-handed I discovered that during that time there weren’t any left-handed guitars around, so I figured out how to play a right-handed guitar upside down and backwards. Before I graduated from high school in Clackamas, Oregon in 1965 I began playing in a garage band called The Bishops, as bass player and later lead guitarist. We played for high school talent shows and dance parties. We styled our music after the Kingsmen ~ “Louie Louie” and the Kinks. In 1966 I was managing a band, called Sticks and Stones. The band tailored their look and music style after Paul Revere and the Raiders. I joined the Army Reserves for six years and then in 1970, I met my wife Kathy in Seattle on a blind date. It was love at first sight and within two months time, we married. I did "get a girl", but it wasn’t because of my guitar, it was because of Jesus. In 1973 we both accepted Jesus into our hearts and lives. My personal relationship with Jesus brought a new and fresh living perspective for life. Over the years, He has healed me from drug and alcohol addiction. We have attended several different churches over these past 34 years and became involved with different ministries. Between 1972 and 1979 our three children were born. And today, we have a blessed addition of four grandchildren. In 1983 the Lord called me and my family to a small island in Washington with a year round population of 600 residents. We had only $50 in our pocket and a part time job offering $5.00 an hour. We were all alone in a new place and environment and prayed to meet Christians. We found a church to attend and before long we were involved in the community with church and school activities. I was a Boy Scout Master (Leader) and Lieutenant and EMS in the Fire Department. I ran for Fire Commissioner of San Juan County and lead guitar worship at home Bible Studies. |