OWNER

by K.R. Hudson

J. Gordon Tice began his musical journey in the late 1960’s in Sacramento, California. He started out playing in various club bands throughout Sacramento and outlying areas. Back in those days the Vox Room Guitar Center was the premier musical outlet on the West Coast. Heading up the sales staff and leader of one of the most successful bands in Sacramento was Gene Thorpe. At the impressionable age of 16, Tice attached himself to the hip of the older and wiser Thorpe, who began to mentor young Tice. But as the finger of fate would have it, Gene’s band hit the road performing throughout the Midwest and Canada. As time went by, Tice continued to hone his craft pioneering a Sacramento favorite “The Travelin’ Magic Band” in 1976 along with multi-instrumentalist, Steve Holt, appearing at Supper Clubs, upscale Lounges, and was a featured group at the “The Stony End“, a unique Artist’s pub in Sacramento. Years later, Gene and his band “Simultaneous Avalanche” returned to Sacramento to headline a homecoming concert at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. That concert turned out to be a defining turning point in Tice’s life, because from that moment on, Tice knew that there was a God in Heaven. What happened backstage that night became legendary. Tice caught a glimpse of one of God’s angels, the Miss Betty Thorpe, who just happened to be Gene’s little sister. Subsequently, Tice and Miss Thorpe became husband and wife. Avalanche went back on the road and then years later, Gene returned home again, but this time, without a band. The years on the road had taken its toll on Avalanche, but the old adage “Rock and Roll never dies” remained true.
Gene rebuilt Avalanche piece by piece clinging to that spirit to which some would say was his best band yet. The resurrected Avalanche would carry on the tradition of the Avalanche of old while performing in the areas top venues. Tice isn’t sure to this day whether or not Gene asked him to join the band just because he was married to his sister. Anyway, what is important is that as with many musicians of the day, making records was only a distant dream and it is one that Tice shared. And so it came to pass, that in 1980, Tice penned a gem that would describe Avalanche on record to be preserved for generations to come. That song, “California Rock ’n’ Roll” was recorded on the Bull Records label in an era when polyester and platform shoes reigned supreme. The song would become an anthem for those Rock and Rollers who refused to compromise their passion and give in to the “Man who makes the Deal”. Avalanche survived the disco era remaining true to band’s calling, and leaving an indelible imprint on Sacramento’s Rock ‘n’ Roll generation.
Tice’s passion for music and recording carried on and eventually was able to record and produce two of his own solo albums; “It’s all about You” and “Time for Today” featuring Gene Thorpe on lead guitar. Gordon is now bringing his passion to the Central Valley practicing attentive recording, solid engineering, and creative production.