The Evolution of The Tree Stumps: Mike Hay, Part 1

As a founding member of The Tree Stumps, Mike Hay left an indelible mark on the local music scene. The evolution of the band would include many lineups of talented young musicians. But Mike was the early cornerstone and, in retrospect, he was a figurative pioneer in the local West Shore music scene.

The Very Early Years

In the late 1950s Mike was taking guitar lessons at Grabowski Music in Fairview Park. There, he purchased his first guitar and cleaned the store during off-hours to pay for it. Interested in starting a pop music band, Mike found there were very few other young musicians around to draw on other than those in formal school bands. Searching for another guitar player, he called Grabowski’s flagship store in Parma, which referred him to Ron Jankowski, who was also taking lessons.

They quickly teamed up, practicing in the Jankowski’s basement. Older brother Russ would soon join, playing occasionally on the accordion and later full time on the organ. Their first jobs were at the Irish American Club on Lorain Road, doing mostly instrumental hits of the era with some standards mixed in for good measure.

In the early 1960s one of Mike’s first bands was the Islanders with Tom West and Bob Shannon. Mike would also play a number of musical engagements with various musicians, including Dante Rossi, a singer and guitarist who would go on to start the notable Danes, morphing into the Baskerville Hounds. Gigging with the Hammond organ trio of Ron Coyne also helped Mike develop musically.

The Fairview American Legion Hall

Mike was contacted by the manager of the Fairview Legion on Lorain Road and asked if his group could do some weekend shows. He scrambled to assemble his combo of the Jankowskis and high school classmate, drummer George Strezza. However, the group needed a bass player and there were few around.

Mike asked his close friend and neighbor from across the street, Gary Harrington, if he was interested. Gary played trumpet in the high school band and had also been in school plays, but he did not know guitar. Gary talked his dad into buying a Fender Jazzman bass and amp. Mike literally taught him rudimentary bass lines in a week before the first show. Gary’s musical ear and talent would do the rest.

Transitioning from its previous stage name of the Echos, the new Mike Hay Combo opened up at the legion hall for their first Friday night. The manager was expecting the Ron Coyne Trio but Mike pointed to Ron Jankowski and said, “There’s Ron.”  And that was that. The hall was empty for the first several shows. However, after a month, word was out about the new sound. Soon, the place was packed and had waiting lines of high school teens, some from as far as the East Side. Riding on the legion success, Mike acting as manager began lining up many other gigs at West Side high schools.

Mike was introduced to drummer Courtney Johns, who was attending Cooper School of Art at the time. He substituted on drums for a job and the band knew he was the future. Courtney’s steady and flashy style fit the beat of the British Invasion sound the band was now emulating. While sitting on the steps of the Johns’ house, Mike and Courtney brainstormed ideas for a new band name. There was a band called "Bark and the Tree Stumps" back in Courtney’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. They shortened the name to The Tree Stumps and never looked back. Ron Jankowski would later trademark the name. The band became more popular and played all around Cleveland, winning Battles of Bands through 1964 into 1965.

The Note

One day after graduation in 1965, Mike got a call from the manager of The Note, a very popular club on Ruggles Beach Road in Vermillion. The manager wanted The Tree Stumps to audition. The group was hired as the house band for the summer, playing Saturday nights for $60 a gig along with their other shows. Opening for national acts such as the Kingsmen and Shirelles was a thrill for the guys.

During this time Mike announced he had joined the Navy and would be leaving the band in the fall. His days in the band that he created were numbered. Mike's last show was at Rocky River High School. He fondly remembers Michael Stanley Gee, a friend of the band, singing a few tunes in that show - a foreshadowing of his future in the band.

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Greg Williams

Today Mike Hay is recording music in his home studio in Parker, Colorado. His music can be found at www.youtube.com/user/mikehaymusic, www.cdbaby.com/artist/MikeHay, www.cdbaby.com/cd/theloganhayproject

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Volume 1, Issue 3, Posted 7:54 PM, 09.03.2013