by Suzanne Simonovich
S: Changing things up a little, I heard you play for home dialysis patients. What is that like?
J: I play my guitar for them. It makes me feel everything is worthwhile, what I’m doing. They love it. I can see the calm in them when I do bring my guitar. When I don’t bring it, they say why didn’t you bring your guitar today. It almost makes me feel like they are getting healing from the music in some kind of way. I can see the difference when I bring it and when I don’t. They say I just love listening to the notes of the guitar, they ring through me like a healing as I play each note.
S: Do you think this is something that should be part of the hospitals in the Kenosha area?
J: Music? I do. I definitely do. I was talking to my wife Kerry’s brother, Jerry Djuth, he does acupuncture in California. I said I had a dream that while you were doing treatments, outside I was playing music and each note I played had a healing effect going through the needles for each patient. I said it’s really weird. He said, “Jerry, that’s what they do in China!” I said, “They do?” I knew nothing about that. He said they use tuning forks and different notes ring through the needles for healing. I had no idea.
I believe music is healing. I believe everyone has a different note, I don’t care if its piano or guitar, to heal them. I believe everyone has a different note that can be played to touch them a certain way. I don’t think people know what their note is, but when they hear it, it sounds so good to them; they feel it.”
S: You have great dreams Jerry. Keep dreaming. How do you feel about the co-mingling of the arts in the Kenosha area?
J: It’s a great idea to bring all these talents together; I’d like to see some of my songs acted out on stage. You know like in a play and hopefully get people from Chicago and Milwaukee to come and see the talent here, maybe by invitation. I work with people from both those cities, and it would be good if we could showcase the talent here, you know pull together and have a fundraiser for the arts. We have a lot of buildings here, maybe something could be done.”
S: What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters? You know, young kids out there that have this passion inside them.
J: If you have music in you, if you want to be a guitarist, piano player, singer, whatever, you should just do it. I don’t care how you sound. Practice, practice, practice makes perfect. Everyone does not sound great at first, and for young kids it will keep them out of trouble, it will stimulate their mind, help them with their homework. You’d be surprised how music can help you understand things better when you are in a music field.
S: Is there anything the Kenosha area can do to help the artists expand on their talents?
J: I think Kenosha should have, well not just Kenosha, but each community should have a music school. You know a place the public could use; where kids can learn how to play different instruments and a place where good entertainment can come in and be heard. I inspired my brother to do that in Texas, maybe we could mimic a place like that here in Kenosha.
S: That’s right. Hunters Place in Wylie Texas, I read about Hunter’s search for a star foundation.
J: Yeah, it was organized for the purpose of helping the kids with different cultural activities, and to get the community involved in music, dance and the visual arts. It would be neat to get something like that here, especially in the summer. My brother’s slogan is put an instrument in every kids hand instead of a gun or knife or drugs. His theory is catching a child early enough with music, will keep them involved; and let them learn to play music with other kids so they can advance. The Arts hook people together whether it’s poetry, literature, or painting they reap something from each other.
S: I know you’re a spiritual man, how can a person’s spirituality help in something as profound as your music?
J: For one thing you have to have faith. I think faith is a big part in believing you can get things done. You know my parents were very religious, so we were brought up in the church and faith comes from up above.
[Our eyes are drawn to the candle on the table at the same time.]
S: Wow! Did you see that candle flicker when you said that?
J: Yeah, yeah, [laughing] I thought it was going to go out, I know I didn’t blow over there.
S: Someone’s with us.
J: Faith gives you, the strength, it gives you the energy, it gives you the willpower, and the creative mind to say this is going to work. Faith is awesome. And I’m humble. I always try to be humble. I am just happy to have this opportunity. Someone said to me a couple of weeks ago, boy I bet you have so much pride now. And I said, “No, not a lot of pride, I get a lot of satisfaction in what I’m doing.”
S: I just knew that about you.
J: Yeah, I said, I don’t like to use the word pride because it makes me sound like this is me I’m all of it. I’m none of it; I’m just part of it. I’m just part of what’s going on at this time, the guy upstairs is giving me creative ideas and I’m using them.
I want to tell you, after my Dad died, God, I put my guitar down for like - weeks. I didn’t touch it. I didn’t feel like touching it because he was the one that taught me how to play. When he passed away I felt like I didn’t want to play again. So it was the weekend I bought a lottery ticket, I think the jackpot was like two-hundred million. I was in the basement and I said, “Dad, I wish I could just win the lottery and just as clear as day I could hear him saying in my ear, “You’ve got a million dollars in your guitar case, and you’re not using it.” Tears came to my eyes right there, and I said holy cow, he’s telling me what to do. Don’t worry about the lottery ticket, use what’s in your case, it’s been there all the time. I woke up after that.
S: Your Dad still speaks to you and you listen. That’s key.
J: Yes, my brother Rob said, Jerry, you know that was a prophesy given to us when you were twelve and I was fourteen. My Dad said, “The ministry is that you and your brothers are going to be like kings among the people,” not in a literal sense, but through our music. That’s what I’m here for; I’m part of the music.
S: Pablo Picasso said, “Give me a museum and I‘ll fill it.” Jimi Hendrix said “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” What does Jerome Hunter say?
J: In my dreams I hear the music, I write the music, I play the music. I’m just a messenger of my dreams. I’m about the music.
S: Jerry, that’s so beautiful.
J: Thanks, Suzanne. I’d like to share something Martin Scorsese wrote:
[He lends me the Scorsese six CD Blues set, to listen to at my leisure, inside the small booklet he points out these profound words:]
”We all like to imagine that art came from out of nowhere and shook us like nothing we’ve ever seen or read or heard before. The greater truth is that everything, every painting, every movie, every play, every song - comes out of something that precedes it. It’s a chain of human responses. The beauty of art and the power of art is that it can never be standardized or mechanized. It has to be a human exchange, passed down, hand to hand or else it is not art. It’s endlessly old and endlessly new at the same time, because there are always artists hearing and seeing work that’s come before them, getting inspired and making something of their own out of what they absorbed.”
S: Thank you Jerry, for sharing so much of your life with me. God bless you with success on your new CD, The Man Behind The Mask, and everything you set out to do. Say hello to Kerry, I hope to see her soon.
[We hug to seal our friendship and say goodnight.]
Jerome Hunter you have been “Exposed”
Just in case you missed you can click here to read the Part 1 of Jerome’s interview.
Suzanne Simonovich is the “Voice of the Flowers” at Capturing Beauty, the website of local photographer Joe Barr.
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10 comments ↓
Jerry, while I am here in the dirty south, I want you to know how very proud I am of you. I know that you are making both our “FATHERS IN HEAVEN” smile down on you. God bless you and keep up the marvelous work. P/S, Your 4th sister, Leona.
We Love you and God Bless.
Kiss those beautiful nieces and nephews that I have up there, and tell everyone that I Love them.
To my Brother and Friend, I thank God for your gift and your willingness to use it. The world is waiting for you and your music my friend with arms opened wide. WELCOME!
Jerry Hunter, the little boy next door. What a wonderful man you have become. We are so proud of you. I am so happy that you and Walter have continued to be “brothers”. May God continue to bless you in your every endeavor.
Our love to you and your family - Willie & Bette Thomas
Jerry, God has truly blessed you with a Wonderful Gift. I’m glad we have always recognized that all our gifts and talents come from God. I’m so very proud of you . I enjoyed reading the interview. It was wonderful.Continue to do what God has called you to do, and keep the faith because it is he that will make your name Great and bring you before great men.
Love you very much,
Edie
Jerry & Suzanne: Great interview! I feel like I’ve known Jerry for years after reading this. It was great to see a picture of you guys on here too. I had a fun time listening to Jerry play at Pat Morans “meet & greet” at the coffee house on Tuesday night. Great music and fun. I also want to thank Jerry for signing a copy of his CD for me! I listened to it on the way home. Very good stuff. Keep it going! You’re about to hit it big time!
I’m your number 1 fan & you know it!!:)
Love your song, Baby, Don’t You Know, looking forward to your next CD.
I love your song , Baby Don’t You Know, can’t wait till your next CD is finished. You have so much talent!
Jerry, I am so proud of you, and your accomplising your talent, in music, and with the guitar: i’m remembering when you was about seven or. eight years old, you would stand around your Dad, and watch him playing the guitar, Dad recognized the intensity of you longing to play, so one Christmas, He bought you one of your own, Since that time we have watched you fulfilling your goal; Dad, is gone, But i am here to see you using the Gift and Talent, that the Lord gave to you. I pray for you each day to reach your goals in life, much suscess. Oh, by the way, I love your cd, ” Baby Don,t You Know”. Looking forward for your next CD PS: Granny, says: “Keep Your Hands, In the Old Man’s Hand, you’ll Make it. Love You Son, MOM.
Dear Jerry,
I love you and wish you to accomplish all your goals in your music career.
My prayers are with you and your family always. Special thanks for the CD “Baby Don’t You Know”
You know you’re up there with Smokey from Motown USA. in my book. I love that era of music.
Love Aunt Clara
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