Dad at the Grill

Here’s a tribute to the man behind some of Scorchedear’s talents, Jerry M. Modjeski, lifelong resident of Winona, Minnesota, who passed away recently. (Obit)

I shared several important passions with Dad, including love of classic country-western music. He tape recorded himself at home playing instrumental guitar-harmonica on simplified arrangements of old favorites and standards. (Listen)

Dad was also keenly interested in UFOs, bigfoot and all things paranormal.

For me, the Christmas gift of a yellow transistor radio encouraged my lifelong passion, along with noting my Dad’s late-night listening habits: clear-channel KDKA-Pittsburgh; Jim Bohannon; long-time fan of inquistive, acerbic Art Bell; back in the ’70s, WIND-Chicago’s Eddie Schwartz kept tabs on locals like ghost-hunter Richard Crowe, and from the Center for UFO Studies, Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Dad, cartoon by Wayne Modjeski