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Cannon Airmen no "Strangers" to music

  • Published
  • By by Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
A person can have many talents. For some people, their talents can be as diverse as performing maintenance on an aircraft, accounting for tools and parts, and playing a musical instrument in front of a live audience of peers, coworkers and strangers.

For four Airmen, two of whom are currently stationed here, music means more to them than just pleasing the ears. Tech. Sgt. J.D. Moore and Staff Sgt. Josh Crook, both of whom are in the 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, delight the musical palettes of listeners with their band, Stay the Stranger.

"I just love music," said Sergeant Moore, who plays bass guitar, while Sergeant Crook, who plays rhythm and lead guitar, nodded in agreement.

The four-member group, also consisting of Tech. Sgt. Dan Lee on drums and Staff Sgt. Drew Wilson on vocals, met while stationed at Cannon Air Force Base.

"I think I was the last choice (to play bass)," said Sergeant Moore.

Sergeant Crook countered, saying, "I was surprised (Sergeant Moore) even gave us the time of day. He's great."

The band describes its music as rock and roll, according to Sergeant Crook. "We have all types of different musical influences, but we're just a normal rock band."

They compare the origin of their sound to such bands as Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots.

A rock band that gets support from the local and base communities, Stay the Stranger recorded their debut album "Evolver" in a music studio in downtown Clovis and has had a couple of their songs aired on a local morning radio show.

They've played a couple of different live venues, including "rocking" the End Zone on base.

"We had people jumping on amps and playing air guitar," said Sergeant Crook. "It was more than a live show. It was a party."

As the duties of the military come first, their vocalist, Sergeant Wilson, and their drummer, Sergeant Lee, relocated to new Air Force assignments elsewhere. Sergeant Moore is relocating to Luke AFB, Ariz., in the summer.

The band hopes to continue playing in Stay the Stranger well into the future, and regardless, their interest in music will continue indefinitely.

"We can send each other mixes or new tracks via e-mail or other avenues of the internet and work on new material that way," said Sergeant Crook.

"It's not about fame. I just really love music," said Sergeant Moore. "I told my wife when I got married 'you're never going to have to worry about finding me somewhere I'm not supposed to be. But if there's some music there, you might have to come get me."