The captivating Carl Rowe

WALLACE — With a smile on his face and a song in his heart, pianist Carl Rowe brings a special kind of magic and talent to the local bar scene.

Rowe, 65, can be found tickling the ivories at the establishment 6th and Cedar Espresso Bar in Wallace and has also been seen performing onstage at the Sixth Street Melodrama and Theater.

Rowe began playing piano at a young age, initially learning from his mother.

“My mother played the piano and we had an old upright piano in our home,” Rowe said. “I can remember sitting on the piano bench with her while she played and sang. I might have been around 3 or 4 years old then, and my three older brothers were in school.”

Rowe continued that his mother would also play records while she did housework and cleaned up after her children.

“My mom said I was inquisitive about how to play music and experimented playing the piano on my own. When I was in the first grade, she decided to have me take lessons. During my third grade year of school, I took a break, partly because I wasn’t practicing and partly because we got a brand new baby sister,” Rowe said.

When Rowe was in fourth grade, he explained he could start on a string instrument in school, so he took violin lessons like his older brothers had.

“It was an easy transition because I could already read music,” Rowe said. “In the sixth grade, I took up the trumpet and spent my life savings of $76 on an electric guitar and amplifier, and eventually started piano lessons again. My great aunt said I was going to be a jack of all trades, and a master of none. At that time, I didn’t understand what that meant. But now I do, and she was right.”

Rowe doesn’t have a current practice routine and enjoys reading new music for his own enjoyment.

“When something comes my way to play in public then I will practice that music starting very slow and accurately.”

He recounted memorable gigs, like being a toy soldier trumpet player in Disneyland’s Christmas Parade in 1979 and playing piano in the Knott’s Berry Farm Saloon Show.

“I was also a trumpet player in a movie called 'Swing Shift' starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in 1983, and played trumpet in a 12 piece, ‘surprise’ marching band for Cher’s birthday.”

Rowe moved to Wallace in 2020, after being born and raised in Southern California, when he began dreaming about a change of scenery about 10 years ago.

“I started searching on the internet for property in the northwest. It was fun to see all the possibilities but I would not have taken that leap while my parents were still alive. After my parents passed on, and I received some inheritance, I was able to stop dreaming and actually do it.”

The Historic Jameson in Wallace popped up, and Rowe liked what he saw and couldn’t stop thinking about it for months.

“I flew up in January of 2020 to find what Wallace was all about, and made an offer.”

When the bar and coffee shop 6th and Cedar opened up in Wallace right next door to the Jameson, Rowe became quick friends with the owner.

“They are right next door to me, and when the new owner was going to have their grand opening, I jokingly said that they should have a piano player, but wherever would they find one? The owner (Tamra Hier Clair) liked the idea, so I rolled one of my pianos over, and now I have something to practice for.”

Rowe is working on fixing up the Historic Jameson and eventually wants to play there.

“In the future, I expect to play at my place, the Jameson. Or maybe it will become the ‘Jam-eson.’”

His advice to parents is to get their children involved in music when they are young, ending with “Music is a wonderful gift, and it makes me feel good. But, I’m not pursuing it as a career anymore. I guess it is now my fun hobby.”

Those interested can watch Rowe play at 6th and Cedar Espresso Bar located at 525 Cedar St. in Wallace on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6-7 p.m. and will also be the accompanist for the Sixth Street Melodrama show in August.