— by Maliyah Schiff Imagine my disbelief when I found out that not a lot of people know about incredible singer and actress Helen Grayco. Helen was born here in our wonderful city of Tacoma and was already singing by the age of 4. Two years later she became the six-year-old blues singer for Seattle’s KOL radio station. Then at age 8 she got a … Continue reading Helen Grayco – The Lady in Red
— by Sydney Jaxon For those who are unaware, let us begin with what USO stands for: United Service Organizations. The USO is an organization that serves active-duty service members and military families. Originating in 1941, the purpose was to provide recreational activities and resources for our troops. This was a great idea, as the 1940’s was a tumultuous time for the United States, right … Continue reading Tacoma’s USO #2
— by Kim Davenport Many Tacomans will remember Juan Perez (1948-2017), who played the piano at the Tacoma Nordstrom store for 27 years. UW Tacoma student Nathan Hiatt was moved by Perez’ story while enrolled in the class “Musical History of Tacoma” this Autumn, and decided to make it his final project in the class to record an episode for our podcast which honored Perez’ … Continue reading Remembering Juan Perez
by Hongying Neubauer I’m sitting here listening to The Robert Cray Band playing their monster hit Right Next Door (Because Of Me). Cray blends his soulful vocals and exceptional guitar skills with traditional blues to tell a story that the protagonist’s guilty feeling of causing the woman next door to be accused of unfaithful to the one who really loves her: “I can hear the … Continue reading The Rise of Robert Cray and His Influence on the Blues
by Jenna Swetz Out of all of the musicians and bands that Tacoma has hosted and raised over its long history, one of the most influential of those bands has to be The Sonics. Known for their loud, wild, and raw sound, The Sonics are considered the progenitors of the grunge subgenre of rock & roll. Founded in 1960 by a teenage Larry Parypa, The … Continue reading Grandfathers of Grunge: The Sonics
by Kelsey Lyons Born in October of 1904 and residing at 1224 North Prospect Street, Viola Wasterlain was a Tacoma-based musician who would make a name for herself through her extraordinary violin skills. Throughout her life, Viola would be recognized for her remarkable talent and would go on to give numerous performances all over the United States, one of which would have the attendance of … Continue reading Visionary, Violin, Viola
— by Olivia Thompson Have you discovered the unique band Girl Trouble yet? From the time they formed in 1983, they have been producing some of the most radical and interesting music. Described as a mixture of garage, grunge, rock, and surf, the members of the band take elements of many types of music and combine them into songs that make you want to rock … Continue reading Girl Trouble: A Melting Pot of Music
–by Henry Nguyen Tacoma is known for its rich history and that is reflected through the historical buildings that can be found still standing today. Taking a stroll through the Stadium district there is a sense of the old world that can’t be found anywhere else in Tacoma. At the center of the Stadium district, you’ll find an iconic landmark that overlooks Commencement Bay. You … Continue reading Stadium Bowl: from Bands to Disney Stardom
Tales of Tacoma 