14 • February 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


‘WHATS UP’ SONOMA COUNTY Musical Notes in Sonoma County


SONOMA COUNTY, CA. ~ Gently understated, nestled in the rolling hills of Cotati, Prai- rie Sun Recording has been going strong for four decades under the helm of owner, Mark “Mooka” Rennick. Notably, Rennick’s Prairie Sun partner, Cliſton Buck-Kauff- man, co-founded the annual Cotati Accordion Festival with Jim Boggio. A memorial stat-


ue of Boggio play- ing the accordion greets passersby at the La Plaza Park in downtown Cotati. Sitting outside the Prai- rie Sun office one can hear dogs barking in the distance and var- ious birds chirping on the ex- pansive rural property, the site used to be a chicken hatchery. Te idyllic setting must certain- ly get the creative juices flowing


for the musicians who record at the legendary studio. Mooka graciously gives a tour


of the grounds while enthusias- tically and reverently explain- ing the history of the vintage equipment in Studios A, B & C. Mooka explains in Studio B that the recording con- sole, that took two years to restore, was originally custom built for Pete Townsend of Te Who. Mooka waxes poetic on


the virtues of analog and digi- tal. Prairie Sun features rare original and replica vintage equipment as well as modern computer programs and talent- ed audio technicians. Literally, thousands of knobs and but- tons fill the studios…the sto- ries they could tell, if only they


ists; which is a song- writing


and spo- ken-word collective


he founded with Jim Cohn, who is the cura- tor of the Museum of American


Poetics. He took time out from mixing


one of his own tracks, called, “Connect the Dots” to talk with Upbeat Times. He also, has a related business, called Prairie Sun Live, whose


and community based events.” “We’re in the Waits Room!” he says with a smile. “Tom Waits didn’t want the tradi-


could talk! Mooka has been involved


with his own project called, Te Abolition-


TM


by Shekeyna Black • Shekeyna@AMiracleProductionAMP.com


mission is, to provide a supe- rior sonic experience at live events. Mooka explains, “We work with many non-profit


tional sound,” says Mooka as he fondly recalls the times that the two of them spent together at Prairie Sun, record- ing various projects. Over the years,


countless musicians, some famous, all dedicated to their craſt, have graced the extraordinary recording studio. Visit www.PrairieSun. com for a delightful interview of Mooka talking about Prai- rie Sun. Look for the Cornfield Mural in the background, a nod to his rural Il- linois


upbringing.


Mooka, before re- turning to his mix-


ing project, reflects on an im- portant component of music, “Being a fan is okay. It serves a social function.”


MEDIA ALERT: SRJC ONE LOVE DIVERSITY FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 15


*Excludes advertised items, clearance, hot buy, special offers. Min. purchase $4,999 with 36 equal monthly payments. $2,999 for 18 month or $999 for 12 months deferred interest on your La-Z-Boy credit card between 2/3-2/27/17 on approved credit. See store for details.


GOING ON NOW THROUGH PRESIDENT’S DAY!


Santa Rosa, CA. ~ In this post- election season, the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) Student Government Assembly, Office of Student Success and Equity, and the Office of Student Af- fairs & Engagement Programs are partnering to present the first-ever SRJC One Love Di- versity Festival. The event will


take place on Wednesday, Feb- ruary 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bertolini Quad at SRJC’s Santa Rosa campus. The festival aims to cre-


ate unity through community. As an open access institution, SRJC has a long history of wel- coming students from diverse backgrounds. The One Love


Diversity Festival supports the College’s Strategic Plan goals of supporting student success, serving diverse communities, and fostering academic excel- lence.


Entertainment and food (rep- resenting a variety of cultures) will be available. In addition to celebrating diversity in So- noma County, a wide range of student services and programs will also be represented. For more information, please contact Hilleary Zarate at hza- rate@santarosa.edu or visit www.santarosa.edu.


“Te more you feed your mind with


positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things


Santa Rosa • 2875 Santa Rosa Ave. • 525-0569 www.lazboy.com/santarosa


14 • February 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


into your life.” Roy Bennett


“True friends don’t come with conditions.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen


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