There are certain days in a musician’s life that stay with you forever. Not just because they were exciting, but because they mean something more. They stand apart from the rehearsals, travel, soundchecks, late nights, and long drives. They carry a different kind of weight. Gratitude, and recognition from the very place you called home.
One of those days was Monday, May 10, 1999, when the City of San Buenaventura, (Ventura) where I lived and called home, presented our band with the Key to the City.
This was not some distant ceremony in a city we just happen to be passing through. This was our own hometown recognizing what our band had accomplished, and for me, that gave this event a special significance that is hard to put into words.
I remember having to be at City Hall for a 7:30pm presentation, and we were set to arrive at the Mayor’s Office. There was a sense that this would be something special. Even before the ceremony began, it felt like we were about to receive a special honor.
When I first heard we were selected to get the Key to the City, I remember thinking, how does something like that happen? It seemed so unreal. This was definitely a first for all of us.
At that time our band was growing in popularity. We all knew we were very fortunate to be experiencing all these wonderful moments in life. At the same time, we also knew how much work it took for all of us to get to this point in our careers. We had been working extremely hard, traveling all the time, playing constantly, and maintaining the kind of schedule that demands everything from you.
Late nights, early mornings, little sleep and very little time at home. The steady pace of a professional band that was always moving. There's a saying, be careful for what you wish for, it just might come true, and for us, it was a dream that had come true.
Because we were touring so much, the event had to be scheduled for a time when all of us were actually in town and off the road for a bit. Time at home was always a premium. This particular month was the exception, and it was a good month because we were preparing to go into the studio and record for a couple of weeks. We minimized our tour dates for this particular month to get ready for the studio.
Our road manager would always print out our monthly dates. This month touring was reserved for our upcoming recording dates.
Being in Ventura even for a short stretch felt so valuable. But this was the kind of occasion that no one would ever miss. Not many people get the opportunity to receive an honor like this in their lifetime, and we knew that. We felt very humbled to be there, and I felt this was a validation for all the hard work that everyone in the band had done.
What I also remember about that day was how well the ceremony was carried out. It was thoughtful, and respectful in a way that gave the event real meaning. Media people were also there, with everything having a formal, organized quality. It felt like the city genuinely wanted us to know this recognition also mattered to them, and this made it even more meaningful for us.
Sometimes an award presentation can feel somewhat routine or ceremonial, in a way that does not measure up to the significance that it was meant to be. This presentation was not like that. This felt warm and personal. It felt like our hometown, Ventura, was honoring its own. And since I lived in Ventura, I felt this so much more.
Scott, our band leader, spoke to the crowd and was so gracious, as always. He represented the band very well. He understood the importance of the moment and spoke with the kind of appreciation and dignity the event deserved. He always carried himself that way, and on that day he really spoke with a sincere heart.
The city’s proclamation captured the spirit of the occasion beautifully. It recognized our band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, as a hometown hero on the musical scene. It spoke to the band’s success, the pride the city felt, and the way our music had brought something positive to the community. It also recognized that the band’s local roots and musical accomplishments could inspire other musicians along the Central Coast. That meant a lot to all of us.
Success in music can be measured in many ways, record sales, lot's of touring, popularity, and magazine articles. But being recognized by your own hometown is something else entirely. That kind of acknowledgment feels so awesome. It says that what you did was not just commercially successful, but meaningful to the people and the place you you call home.
One of the most memorable parts of the event was the presentation itself. The Key to the City Proclamation was beautifully framed and displayed that included the official certificate and a large brass key. The certificate was signed by the mayor, and the key was beautifully made, inscribed with "City of San Buenaventura."
Each member of the band received an original signed certificate and a brass key to the city for our own. The key came in a black velvet bag, which added a nice touch to the presentation. The whole event had a ceremonial quality that made this honor feel important and official.
I remember being so impressed by the way the main framed presentation had looked that I asked where it had been framed. Once I found out who the framer was, I took my certificate and key to him and had it framed exactly as the original that had been presented at the ceremony. I wanted to preserve this wonderful honor with the same tone, professionalism, and respect that surrounded the event itself.
Some moments deserve to be preserved properly. They are more than just a memory. They become markers of a particular time in someone's life, reminders of the work, the people, the places, and a moment that could never really be repeated.
The framed proclamation and Key to the City represent a chapter in my life when everything we had been working so hard for, had now become a reality, in a visible and tangible way.
The newspaper coverage captured some of the spirit of the event. The city was not simply handing out a proclamation and moving on. They made it into something that felt celebratory and meaningful. There was a sense that Ventura was recognizing it's band that had gone out into the world and carried a part of our city with it.
Article about the band and the Proclamation.
Days like this make you reflect and think about where you are in life and your career.
And then a lighter moment that still makes me laugh. After the ceremony, I asked the guys, “Does this come with free city parking?” They laughed and said, “No.”
That little exchange afterwards still makes me laugh, because it was a stress release and brought a sense of humor to a wonderful occasion.
When I think back on that day now, what I feel most is appreciation, that I was a part of something few people ever get to experience. Not many musicians receive a Key to the City from their own hometown. We were very lucky.
One important aspect to share, there are so many great musicians and so many great bands that never get their day in the sun, even though they deserve it. It might because of management decisions, or not truly believing in themselves, or not taking that leap of faith. It takes so much hard work, but also it takes being in the right place, at the right time. We were so lucky to have had all those things come together and working for us. Most importantly, we had the strong support of our fans and family.
Receiving the Key to the City of San Buenaventura was a great honor. It was a meaningful day, and it is one I will remember for a lifetime.
