I moved out to Long Island from Queen in 1990. The first year and a half out here, I longed to be back in Queens. I could not find anybody to hang with because everyone I meet was on a head-trip to make themselves out to be better than anyone else. Competing and back stabbing, all the time, no real friends. I was rolling the idea around in my head and planting the idea into my X's head that we may want to move back to Queens.   To be honest, I was miserable.  I wanted to get back into playing and find musicians that didn't have their heads up their, self-glorified, ass all the time.  Then, I found call some misfit country players.  I took on the challenge of working with these guys and it took off. Things started coming together. Much to my surprise, I found that the Country circuit was paying well. So off I went from Blues man into Country. (Country music was in my bones anyway thanks to my Dad.)   Well, in about 1 year of doing the Country scene, I wanted to get involved with better players. So I watched the want adds for a Bassist. Then one day I answered one add that wanted a Bassist for traditional and New Country Music. I thought if they did traditional that meant there should be some older players. So thinking that I may find the proverbial better musicians I was seeking, I answered the add.   When I got to the house where these guys were rehearsing, I was greeted by a man named Nick. He was a typical old time Italian Do-op man. He had the look, the walk and the talk. I was getting my first thought that this is another silly misfit thing. But I continued to the Basement to be auditioned.   This is where I first meet Pete. He was sitting on a couch with the guitar in his lap and dilly dallying with some Allman Brothers Licks. Even though he did not have the guitar plug in, I was enjoying his talent. When he saw me, he put the guitar down, stood up and with a BIG SMILE, welcomed me. He had a way of making me feel that it was real. That felt good. I really had a feeling like he was an old lost brother.   Well, we talked a bit and we all were anxious to start playing, so we did. The country tunes that Nick had on the set list were mostly impressive tunes. But as soon as I found out that Nick was the lead singer, and he did not have a country accent if you know what I mean, I just listened to him with my jaw on the floor. It was not country. It was Do-op vocals mixed into a country record. I never heard anything that weird before. I started laughing inside and looking at Pete. I can see we both had the same smile on our faces.   It took a while but then Nick asked us to take a break and he would get us something to drink upstairs. That was the break I was looking for. Then Pete and I started talking and man did we start talking. We both had the same ideas and likes in the Blues & Rock music. We jammed a few bars on Key to the Highway and went on to all the good stuff. Allman Brothers, Derick and the Dominos, Stevie Ray, etc…  That was the most fun I had in the 2 years I was out here.   After Nick got back we were almost buddies and Nick seen this. Pet and I were throwing in licks from Blues tunes just for a few laughs during the Country songs. After a while, Nick started getting a bit mad and called the rehearsal off. At that time, Pete followed me to back my place and we parked my car and then sat in his 65 chevy and talked and laughed from 10pm to 1 am.  I'll never forget that day. I was so happy to meet Pete. He was the first real person I meet out here in 2 years.   As time went on, Pete and I formed a number of bands but the first was White Hot and Blue. Then we hooked up with Greg Bonassera. He was the 1st good drummer I enjoyed playing with out here.  We really got into some very cool jams. We also dragged Greg into the Country scene and we did some gigs with Nick. The Band was ok, but the heart of the players were for mostly Rock & Blues. So we kept trying to make White Hot and Blue work.   When I split up from my X, Pete mentioned that an apartment downstairs from him was available and he could set me up. I said yea, and in about 2 weeks, I was moving in. This is when all the big fun started. About 4 times a week, Pete would come down after dinner and we would talk and Jam. I started recording the jams because they started getting good.   That's where most of the tunes came from that are on Pete's site. Some were in the Garage with a full band and some were in the Apartment with just Pete and me. One tune I'll never forget doing with him was Melissa. We wanted to do it over because we forgot the bridge. I'm sorry we didn't but just the act of not completing the tune gives it more meaning for me. It was the one recording we did, and it stayed that way. Funny, I would be alone listing to the mix down and saying " DAM, Pete has so much conviction and soul in his voice and I don’t think he knows it. Sure enough, after trying to get him to understand what he has in his voice, I come to find he does not have the same belief that I do in him. He wanted to do better all the time. And I have to say, that is exactly what he did.   Pete went on to form Heartland and I did play with them at time. But the memories I treasure the most are the times when it all came together. Anyone can see on Pete’s face, while we were playing that he was happy. That’s when he enjoyed himself the most, on Stage and Jamming.   I cannot come to a full belief that he is gone. I refuse to believe that. Not because I can’t except it, but because he had that kind of soul. He was and always will be the Pete we all know. This world is a much better place when you have people like Pete around. So lets not forget him.   Love Ya Buddy, George.