Johnny Ray Gomez
Feb23

Fonner Park Day at the Races

New Lounge, Grand Island, Ne

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Here’s how it all started!

I was born into a musical family and started taking music lessons at the age of 9. I begged my parents to let me take lessons from the famous Johnny Swoboda and promised my parents I would practice an hour a day. The rest is history!

I have been playing professionally since the age of 16, when I formed a combo called the U-Neeks. We played high school dances.

When I was 21, I was chosen to host “Channel 7 Dancestand” a show that mirrored “American Bandstand.” This show taught me to ad lib and also how to get the audience involved. One of my favorite memories is my interview with The Rolling Stones!

After my time on “Dancestand”, I formed an eight-piece group, the Johnny Ray Gomez Revue and started playing casinos all over Nevada. Those were fun days! But coming back to Omaha was a decision I have never regretted.

The years have gone by so quickly since then but my life has been a happy one. A great family and wonderful friends!

Yours, JRG

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