Music is a language all on its own. It can be understood and recognized everywhere. It can right a wrong, calm a beast, excite a room, bring people together, and set someone apart. Such a phenomenon and social connector is celebrated by many. Among those rocking out is Gerry Hundt a talented musician and lover of music. He is this week’s Valpo Life in the Spotlight.
Hundt was born in Appleton, WI and raised in Rockfort, IL. When he was in high school he played sports, but after a soccer injury left him unable to return to the field, Hundt turned his focus to music. After graduating from high school he went to Middlebury College in Vermont where he majored in Latin and Greek and minored in French. Along with his time in academia, Hundt worked as a DJ for the college’s radio station and played in a few different bands.
After college Hundt spent a summer on Colorado then moved to New York City. There he got a job as a stage hand and worked at MTV Studio Time Square TRL with Carson Daily for about two years. Then he moved back to Colorado where he and a friend worked as full-time musicians. In 2005, Hundt went on the road with Nick Moss and the Flip Tops. He played bass, harmonica and the mandolin during his time with them.
“It was fun. We hit every state went and toured in Europe,” Hundt said. “We played different venues from a bowling alley in Nebraska to the San Francisco Blues Fest. It was great to see that much of the country in that way.”
Another great thing that resulted from Hundt’s time in the band was his wife. Hundt met his wife through a friend in Denver while his band was playing at a dance. They kept in touch and after a time they got together and moved to Chicago where they lived for about a year. Then they moved to Northwest Indiana where his wife grew up. Currently, Hundt and his wife along with their three children live in Chesterton.
“When we were living in Chicago we came to visit my wife’s parents,” Hundt said. ”I always had this vision of living in smaller town with shops and downtown. Every time we visited I was entranced by the aspect. Northwest Indiana has proximity to great beaches; there are great things to do on the weekends, and a lot of family friendly activities. The great thing about it is that if you want to go to Chicago you’re really only about 45 minutes away but you have the convenience of coming home to a more relaxed pace. There is a lot to like about it. I can say that as far as infrastructure and availability of services Northwest Indiana has a lot to offer.”
Hundt works during the day as a customer service representative for Starin Marketing in Chesterton. He enjoys what he does and stated that the people he works with are great as is the organization itself. He still plays music with his band entitled the Gerry Hundt Trio as well as solo acts. He plays in local venues as well as in Chicago and other parts of the country. In the fall of 2013, Hundt is scheduled to play a gig all the way over in Finland, which this writer believes to be pretty awesome indeed.
In his free time, Hundt chases his kids around, plays music on the weekends and frequents the European Market in the summer as a patron as the entertainment.
Yes, life is treating Hundt well. But as you might have noticed, he didn’t just sit around and wait for opportunities to come to him. He got up and went after them. So how does he keep the good times rolling?
“Joseph Campbell said, ‘Follow your bliss’,” Hundt said wisely. “This statement is simple and yet multifaceted in that if you do that in your life you will meet people who will help you, and I have certainly found that to be true. It was through my music that I met a lot of people. And you can’t go wrong following your passion –your bliss. It is a piece of advice that has benefitted me greatly.”
You can find out more about Gerry Hundt and the music that he loves at www.steadygroove.com.