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In 1968, when Steve Wall was 11, he asked his parents for a drum set for Christmas. They were happy to oblige, but when they got to the music store the salesman told them they were crazy and suggested they get their son a guitar instead. They did.
The idea clicked. Wall immediately loved the guitar and forgot about the drums. By the time he got to high school, he was Playing in a rock 'n' roll band, Raw Yogurt.
Today Wall, 44, still plays in a band. He's the lead guitarist for The Beer Dawgs, a hard-working and popular Sacramento band that has made seven albums and won six Sacramento Area Music Awards. Wall describes the band's style as "eclectic. "He says they play rock 'n' roll blues, Cajun, country western and jazz.
BACKGROUND
* Age: 44
* Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology, California State University, Chico, 1980
* Lives in: Curtis Park
* Born in: San Jose
* Awards: Six-time Sammie (Sacramento Area Music Award) winner, including Best Bar Band (two years in a row); Best Rock Band; Best Guitar Player; and Best Rock Artist
* Job: Lead guitarist with the Beer Dawgs, a five-member band that he cofounded
THE JOB
Started playing: "When I was 11 years old. My parents asked me, 'What do you want for Christmas?' and I said, 'More than anything else, I want a drum set.' They went to the music store (and were told), 'Don't get him drums! He'll drive you out of your house! Get him a guitar."
"I got that guitar and it was immediate love and I've been playing for 33 years. There've probably been 60 days in those years when I haven't played the guitar."
First gig: "Raw Yogurt was the name of the band. The gig was a high school assembly, I think."
Past bands: "Surfin' Snails; Johnny's Wonderwall Blues Band; First of May; Foothill Express; Arion;...