Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

In the 60’s and 70’s a lot of Somerville kids were starting rock groups. Many were self-taught but others took lessons. The city was cultivating a fine array of talented musicians.

In 1968 I started taking guitar lessons like a lot of kids around that age. We found a guitar teacher named Mr. Cuneo in Bow St. in Medford. He was a pipe smoker. The whole house smelled like pipe smoke. Mrs. Cuneo gave piano lessons in another room.

After a year of lessons, I was ready to perform in my first recital. The piece I learned was the Spanish Malagueña, one of my dad’s favorite sayings it was “that song cost me a fortune!” I think the lessons were a buck and a half.

I remember getting a face full of pipe smoke.

My first guitar was a small inexpensive one. It was my dad’s test to see if I’d stay with it. I stayed at it and learned to play. My dad eventually bought me a nice new guitar. It was called a Harmony Master. Dad bought it from some guy in a bar room.

I remember practicing for a half hour each day. I bought 45 records and taught myself songs. My best friend Charlie also got his guitar for Christmas and we started a band. The first two songs we learned were Gloria and House of the Rising Sun.

The 70’s and 80’s saw a lot of talented musicians in many different bands such as Zenopon, Hobbit, Indescribably Delicious, Shadowfax, The Huns, The Boize and many others. My musical career was 100% supported by my parents and fueled by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie.

Many fine Guitar teachers certainly nurtured the young musicians.