The arts and music are important in education and community engagement. José Moreno believes in the power of music, and as the president of Portage LIVE!, he’s determined to highlight Portage as a hidden musical gem.
As a young child in the 1960s, Moreno was amazed by his father’s collection of big, black discs. The first song he put on a record player was “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets.
Moreno’s life was changed the moment he heard the sound coming off the needle. Playing the bass happened by circumstance later in life.
“All my family and friends in high school were involved in some music,” Moreno said. “I had uncles who played guitar. I had friends who started a band. I was never a musician until one day somebody asked, ‘You know how to play an instrument?’ I go, ‘No, I've never tried.’ He goes, ‘Well, I have a bass. I’ll teach you how to play it.’ I think that was in 1986 when I first played the bass, and I never looked back.”
Moreno’s musical background includes playing bass in bands, assisting musicians with equipment, and performing at notable venues like the Taste of Chicago and the House of Blues Chicago. However, touring didn’t pay the bills. Moreno decided he needed a real job. The young family of six moved from a bungalow in Chicago to Portage in 2007.
Music didn’t stop being important after the move. Moreno began attending the free summer concerts hosted by Portage LIVE!, known as Portage Township Live Entertainment Association at the time, on Tuesday nights. The organization also hired his Blues Brothers impersonation group for an event. Moreno joined the board and became its president in 2016.
“They do try to coerce me into playing and performing,” Moreno said. “I’d rather let everybody else have the fun while I sit back and watch and enjoy myself. It's one thing being on stage and then one thing being the audience. I think it's more fun being part of the audience.”
Before becoming a board member himself, pre-existing members wanted to see how Moreno could grow the board and the organization. His musical background helped bring in people to grow the board and improve the execution of plans.
The organization offers several programs throughout the year. One is the summer symphony program that keeps students engaged in a musical mindset during the summer. The program is great for the community and the parents to see the children perform.
“We work with the schools through their music departments,” Moreno said. “When school is over, students forget to open their books and study. When it comes to music, you can't stop doing it because you'll lose that knowledge. We hire the teachers to continue on in the summer. The program keeps the students engaged, and then at the end of the summer, we host them in one of our shows in our Tuesday night concerts.”
Students can also take part in workshops with student engagement sessions. They are allowed to sit in on professional musicians’ rehearsals or sound checks. The students are encouraged to ask the artists questions, such as how a specific moment in their career felt.
Musical events are for young and old community members to have fun at. The organization gives a space for people in retirement homes to attend events and have fun outside of the facility. Moreno enjoys being able to help free these individuals from their mundane, everyday lives, even if it’s only for a Tuesday night.
“People take music for granted,” Moreno said. “We show people what it does, not only for the young crowd but also for the older crowd. A lot of our audience is retired people who love to dance. It brings that community together because they’re enjoying the music and themselves. It’s not only a sense of community but also bringing a little bit of joy back into some of the people's lives who may still want to get out there and shake their tail.”
Moreno is thankful for the motivation his family has for his passion for music and community involvement. He goes to events in Portage and connects with the community on a personal and professional level. Fostering a love for music and arts in future generations is a goal Moreno continues at the organization.
“I thought I was an introvert until I started getting involved with Portage LIVE! and the Chamber of Commerce and a lot of other organizations,” Moreno said. “I realized I'm a closeted extrovert. I enjoy talking to people. I like being involved in any way I can to promote or give praise to whatever I'm doing or the organizations I'm involved in. I learned to love not only what I do but also love people I'm around.”