Joyful sounds from the basement

Time Storage Studio is a recording studio located in the basement of Doug Hamby’s home in Eckert.

He recently completed recording an album “My Anchor Holds” for Sherry Walker (featured on the Feb. 20 Back Page).

Time Storage Studio records Christian and secular music. The studio is also used for practice sessions for Flashback, a rock ‘n roll band consisting of Doug and friends from his church. Flashback’s aim is to take people back to their good old days playing songs of romance and nostalgia, songs that you don’t hear on the radio anymore.

Band members are Sherry Walker singing female lead, Bill Hansen playing guitar and singing some of the pop tunes. Richard Hansen is the bass player. He is not singing now, though that may change . . . he likes the blues. Doug Hamby sings lead and plays keyboard. They continue to build their repertoire, diversifying and constantly growing.
All are members of the First Baptist Church in Delta. They play clean, secular oldies (songs by the early Beatles, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Connie Francis, and others, mostly from the 1950s and ‘60s.

While in high school, Doug started playing his mom’s old Thomas organ. He considers himself more of an arranger and producer than a musician, who plays by ear, never learned to read music, and would rather connect with the audience than be concerned with notes on a page. He is thankful that the other band members do read music.
Hamby had a studio in California. He produced ads, ‘bumpers’ such as music, public relations spots for the host, theme songs, and announcements for commercial breaks at the beginning or end of shows for Christian radio in the Los Angeles market.

He said, “We also did a lot of political parodies. Clinton was in office at the time and there was a lot of material, so my Clinton impersonations were often included. It was a lot of fun!”

Doug graduated from California State University in Northridge with a bachelor of arts degree in 1978. He specialized in communication, more specifically radio, TV, and film. He worked in the movie industry at a lab transferring film to video tape. Subjects included home movies — many from well known stars and producers — music videos, and commercials often with special effects.

He made a number of small films, none well known, though the experience with the camera, focusing, and lighting was advantageous to his photography business.
His interest in audio came about through his work with political parodies. He did not start singing until he came to Colorado.

The Hamby family, Doug’s wife Laurie and four sons moved here three years ago. He said that they had too many kids in a too small house. When his dad died they needed additional space for his mother. Laurie’s parents live in Delta. That was the connection with this area. With equity from their place in California, they were able to purchase and pay cash for a 1920s era home in Eckert. Remodeling made a private apartment for his mother and added an upstairs master bathroom.

Doug and Laurie are the parents of 18-year-old Scott, who is interested and learning photography in high school; 15-year-old Ian plays the saxophone; 14-year-old Peter enjoys outdoor sports and collecting; 9-year-old Eric will perform a Buddy Holly song parody at the variety show at his church on this weekend.

Doug is presently a teacher, substituting in public schools throughout Delta County. He is qualified to teach kindergarten through 6th grade and is hoping to become a full time elementary school teacher. He also works part-time at Sparky’s Electrical.

Time Storage Studio also includes photography. Doug is an experienced photographer, presently specializing in portraits, weddings, and special events. He is scheduled to take photos at a Cedaredge High School dance in a few weeks. Unlike most photographers, he does not keep the disc. He gives them to the customer who is then free to have additional photos made if desired. He may ask for permission to keep a copy for his own portfolio, but the photos belong to the client.

Back in the 1980s he had his own darkroom, had a lot of fun printing black and white, even did some color work. The process is not economical at this point with digital available. Today, one would operate a darkroom more for the love of the art-form than for economical reasons.

Flashback recently played a benefit for Laura and Todd Culver, whose house burned.

The band will play several numbers at a variety program in the style of the Ed Sullivan Show with Doug as master of ceremony. The event will be held in the church gym to raise money for the youth to fix up the gym and the stage. The cost of $10 includes the show and a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 1, starting at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on Pioneer Road in Delta

Flashback can be contacted to play for parties, dances, wedding receptions, reunions, and other special events in the area by calling 201-6282.