The merry, pied piper singer of the Major Lingo tribe, John Ziegler, is entertaining a new clan these days. Slowly they walk in, some helped strollers, others in wheelchairs. The Cottonwood Villages conference room is packed as residents inspect the cart with birthday cupcakes and adult libations ready for his show. VVN/Vyto Starinskas
By VYTO STARINSKAS The Verde Independent Oct 22, 2024
COTTONWOOD — The merry, pied-piper singer of the Major Lingo tribe is entertaining a new clan these days.
And they are just as engaged and mesmerized by the talented, guitar-slinging musician.
Slowly they walked in, some assisted by walkers, others in wheelchairs. The Cottonwood Village Senior Living conference room was packed as residents inspected the cart with birthday cupcakes and adult libations.
It’s a far cry from the wildly clad, free-form dancers that used to weave and blend into Ziegler’s hypnotic words and his bandmate’s New World music during Major Lingo gatherings.
“Lingo performed for 30 amazing years,” Ziegler said.” “Lingo’s retirement seems official, but the future is unwritten.”
The band put out about eight discs and songs with names such as the Gold Trapeze, Carnival Lives, To the Lighthouse, Mombas, Seventh Seal and Flaming June.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct 16, Ziegler was performing again and serenading his latest audience with ballads and hits, and they were singing in their chairs. Ziegler breaks into a Buddy Holly song:
All of my love, all of my kissin’
You don’t know what you’ve been a-missin’
Oh boy, when you’re with me, ho boy
The world can see that you were meant for me
Ziegler makes his way around the room making eye contact with his engaged audience members who were sipping cokes and other drinks.
Dum di dum dum, ho boy
Dum di dum dum, ho boy
Buddy Holly must have been smiling in rock and roll heaven as Ziegler cheered up another elderly resident.
Next, the musician sang a Kingston Trio ballad to serenade a long-time resident who was having a birthday.
It’s not your grandmother’s song, it’s a rocker!
And I don’t give a damn about a greenback dollar
Spend it fast as I can
For a wailin’ song and a good guitar
The only things that I understand, poor boy
“I’ve been performing at Cottonwood Village for roughly 25 years,” Ziegler pointed out. “Locally, I also perform adult and assisted living at Sedona Winds and Gracious Grannies.”
“I feel blessed to have been given this opportunity.”
The rewards of playing these venues are numerous, the seasoned performer said. “With music, I’ve got them in the palm of my hand and they have me in theirs. Smiling eyes that reminisce, tapping feet and clapping hands.”
Memory care and hospice patients have been a “miraculous experience” for Ziegler. “When someone lifts their head in recognition of a song and a time spent with friends or a loved one. We’re transported to that moment together as they smile and sing the words they haven’t spoken for we don’t know how long.”
Ziegler said that 25 years ago, he was tailoring his song selection to a much different age group than today. But many of those tunes can withstand the test of time, such as La Vie En Rose, Edelweiss and music by Fats Waller and Glenn Miller.
“I’ve been joined for the past 10 years by my gifted friend and chanteuse, Candace Gallagher,” he said.
With her, they collaborate on songs by Patsy Cline, Etta James, Peggy Lee and others.
“We love harmonizing on tunes from Appalachia, the islands, British Isles and post-modern jukebox. We even perform Major Lingo’s To the Lighthouse.
Zieger said for his 11th birthday his dad bought him a “sweet J-45 Gibson acoustic guitar for $50 bucks from a hock shop in Philly. He took lessons off and on for a year when he decided to learn the rest by ear. The Beatles helped guide his way.
Lingo performed for 30 years and having a small town like Jerome as the home base helped kindle the familial affection they had for each other.
“Egos were never an issue. And of course we had one of the most remarkable and creative guitarists on the planet, Tony Bruno,” Ziegler said.
“Our selection of original and cover music was highly influenced by World Beat/Rhythm and the crowds responded with swaying energy and enthusiasm.”
“We cultivated a respectful and loving relationship with our fans that we feel to this day. Our “All Ages” shows certainly boosted our popularity.”
Ziegler said he’s also slowing down as a solo performer and with others bands. “I still take on certain celebrations such as: birthdays, weddings, wakes and occasional open mics at the Spirit Room.”
That led to a standing ovation for Ziegler recently when Llory McDonald of Combo Delux lent Ziegler two of her bandmates, Steve Botterweg and Darryl Icard, for an impromptu mini Major Lingo reunion in the Spirit Room to perform one Major Lingo song.
“Lingo’s retirement seems official, but the future is unwritten.”
From Wikipedia:
Major Lingo is a band from Jerome, Arizona, founded in 1982, and lasting 30 years until its retirement in December, 2012. Band members as of the band’s retirement included original members Tony Bruno on slide guitar and John Ziegler on rhythm guitar and vocals; and more recent additions Sally Stricker on bass and vocals, and Steve Botterweg on drums and vocals. Alumni include drummer Tim Alexander, who went on to join Primus and Blue Man Group, bass player Darryl Icard, who has also played with the Gin Blossoms side project Low/Watts, bass player Linda Cushma of international band Oxygene8, vocalist Christine Thomas, original drummer Dave Rentz of New Mexico’s The Withdrawals, and original bass player Teddy Rocha.
