The year was 1973, and I was privileged to become acquainted with two of the finest, most articulate drummers to emerge on the Chicago music scene -- drummer John Panozzo of Styx fame (God rest his soul; he is greatly missed) and Heartsfield drummer, Artie Baldacci who is alive and kicking.

My brother, Skip, and Heartsfield road manager, Steve (Logs) Birgells, introduced me to the band. They were signing for their first album with Mercury Records at that time. A rock band from Chicago to be signed by a major label in the seventies was a big event (to say the least). It was a fun and exciting time. We were young, idealistic and full of dreams. In a hostile world, there was Heartsfield -- a communal spirit ready to share good times.

My most memorable time with Heartsfield was spent with Artie since I am also a drummer. We talked about Ringo, the human metronome and king of the back beat, about John Bonham whose floor tom sounded like the Grand Canyon and snare a cannon and about Keith Moon who could stand on his drums and still keep them in tune. To describe Artie's drumming is almost poetic -- his drumsticks are paint brushes, his drums the canvas and his soul the paint. In closing, Heartsfield was not only in tune with the time, but also ahead of their time. Ahead with songs like “Please Save Her Life” (1973), a hauntingly environmentalistic tune and ahead with vocal harmonizations that remain unmatched today. I will always wish you luck.

Steve Crabtree -- St. John, Indiana