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Living Life for What You Love

~an interview by Melissa Epperson, October 2000

          Gene Samero takes his love for music with him everywhere.  As I vacationed in the Bahamas recently, my only thoughts were of rest and relaxation on the beach, but for my new-found friend, Gene, this island was an opportunity to reach a multi-cultural audience with his music.  I interviewed him while we sat on lounge chairs on the beach.  While answering questions, it was not unusual for Gene to strum out chords that floated into his head and frantically search for paper to jot down lyrics that flashed through his mind.  His voice was soothing, and I felt the calmness of his being.

         Slightly windblown, his rich, coffee-colored hair flowed in large waves around his head.  He was dressed casually, sporting a pair of olive green, cargo shorts and a partially buttoned, thin, white button down shirt.  I could sense that this was a very down to earth guy, who spoke with a certain authority.  He described his music as Modern Poetic Rock, and it was easy to see and feel the emotion he put into his music.  In fact, he explained to me that he had a need to reach people and the only way he knew how to do that was through his music.  “I have learned that you have to be passionate about every one of the musical notes every time they are played,” he said.

          Gene’s love of music began to evolve when he was 15 years old, and started to play the drums.  Then, just a year later, he started playing the Bass guitar, but mainly focused his attention on the drums.  He alternated from drums to bass, and that triggered his transition to the acoustic guitar.  He had his first public show when he was just 17, and since then he has been recorded on six albums.

          His first solo album will be out at the end of this year.  While this is an accomplishment Gene can be proud of, he says things weren’t always so great.”  My childhood was very trying at times, and I often feel like I am still dealing with it,” he said.

          Gene’s childhood was spent in the Burlington County area of South Central, New Jersey, just across the river from “Philly”.  He says, ”My health was lacking, and I was in and out of the hospital two or three times a year with severe Asthma.”  Nonetheless he was able to hold normal part time jobs, and has worked in both restaurants and grocery stores.   

After attending Delaware Technical Community College for two years, Gene earned a degree in Criminal Justice.  Upon graduation from college he accepted a position at a psychiatric hospital.  Gene drudged through three different hospitals as a mental health technician, only to realize this was a very dark time in his life.  Gene’s goal in life had been to change the lives of others, that’s when he returned to his music.  He decided that his life wouldn’t be fulfilled unless he was impacting people, and the best way for him to reach that goal was through performing.

         Although he has performed in NJ, DE, PA and the Bahamas, Gene’s current home base is in Orlando, Florida.  He writes daily just for practice, but says that his best lyrics are honest and inspired by his own life experiences.  “Most of my lyrics are directed at my self and my own personal shortcomings,” he said.  “The songs have helped me through hard times and are a kind of therapy.”  He and his band theDiligents, perform two or three times a week, and their music has been played on the Florida radio station, ‘Real Radio’ 104.1 FM.

        Gene helped me understand that you need to do with your life what you love.  I have yet to decide what field of study I want to pursue, but people like Gene help me believe that just because you don’t know what you want to do right out of college, doesn’t mean you won’t find your passion. 

        I honestly admire Gene for realizing he was in a job that wasn’t fulfilling his need to help others. He had the courage to change his entire life to try something new.  Along with rest and relaxation, my vacation gave me something else: a wonderful friend who has inspired me to search for what I love and do it!  "Life is confusing enough... believe what's in your heart."

ME 10/00

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Last modified: August 29, 2006