James Messina:Godfather of the Temecula Rock Scene

Help The Godfather of the Temecula Rock Scene’s Memorial Fund. 

James’ wife, Tracy has to travel back to California to host James’s Memorial and there are many expenses. Please show your support for this Great Man by helping his Wife pay tribute in the area James Effected so Much ❤️

Service Info:

Saturday, May 14th at 10:30am

The Bridge Church
38801 Calistoga Dr
Murrieta, CA  92563
United States

The Story of James Messina:  

You might not know his name, but if you played music in Temecula between 2009-2013 you have felt his influence.  At the time it was the height of the Temecula Music Scene, where you have MySpace Bands coming out the ears! 2,000 active bands in a 20 mile radius of Temecula to be exact…This was the dawn of Social Media and the 1st time in history Local Musicians had the ability to freely find and connect with each other on a massive scale.  The Climate for wanting to be in a Band was at it’s height!

Some may say “Temecula Music Scene? What’s that?”  What outsiders do not know, is that during this time Temecula Hosted it’s Greatest Volume of Talent!  From your Local Coffee Shop Acts to Your Big Nationals, like Sir Mix-A-Lot, Andrew W.K., Jonathan Davis (Korn), Real Big Fish, The Misfits, Afroman, TSOL, The Adicts, In this Moment, The Aggrolites, Unwritten Law, The Ataris, and more.

Let’s Not Forget the Locals that Thrived During this time like, Finch, Neon 
Trees, At The Skylines, Inverse, The Coltranes, Strike Twelve, Illnoise, (Sam Larson) 15 North, Jupiter, Lower Definition, The Maxies, On Being Human, DVT, Southern Pariah, Divide the Day & Countless more.

From the names we have listed you might think that this guy is very ALT LEFT, but that’s not the case, James is a Devout Conservative Christian who has been Active and Involved in the Local Community Longer than Most.

To give perspective at his Height, he Produced 100+ concerts a year.  Running 3+ local venues, and a handful of Regional Festivals, like Temecula Music Fest…You can say this was the period where Temecula reached it’s Height in the Music Culture.

The man who made all this happen was “James Messina”James saw the need, took the chance,  and bet his Small Business asperasions and Supported Temecula’s Community by providing jobs in a Slow Economy.   A long time Youth Music Teacher at Sounds of Music, the staple music academy of the valley, James had an opportunity to purchase the business and start anew...Temecula Sounds was a Go!

Along with the known music school/shop came with it the towns Infamous Concert Venue “The Vault”.

For the Musicians in the Area, if you needed anything, they knew where to go.  James Provided a school to Learn, a Studio to Record, and a Stage to Shine!

People would come from all around to donate their Time just to be around what he Created.  Some people hung around long enough to find their one true loves, and who are still together to this day. You Know Who You Are.

James knew he had Open the door to Creating a Thriving Local Music Scene. "The Vault” was created by previous owner Rick Manoia, with Tony Burnett, Eddie Hudson and Ivan. Who all built off of the spark Bill Gould, who started years before at Mad Madilins.

James saw what they had started, and saw the potential to really kick it up a Notch and Bam…the Temecula Music Scene was gorged in concrete.  With his hands he built what would come to be Temecula’s Greatest Music & Art Scene. Never been Matched to this Day!  Everyone who knew, and benefited from during this time, has a Great debt to pay to the Secret Godfather of the Temecula Rock Scene.

As a small business owner in Temecula taking risks to support all those who flourished in Their dreams of music, performance, & art was definitely not an easy task!  In the middle of a Recession, Constant Fights with Problematic Neighbors, ’Names Not to Be Listed”,  Harassments and miss understanding with the City, ’The Vault” proved to be a formable challenge to keep open.  He succeeded this time of trials, and tribulations, and was constantly striving to support other people in need within a multitude of communities in the area.

Being in Recovery since 1982 himself, Jamez also used the business to volunteer his space to host meetings for others in need.  Supporting weekly meetings for The Church, People in Recovery, and just about anyone else with a sad story to tell.  He also donated his time and efforts to supporting the local hgih schools with his ‘Battle of the Bands” events, and  "Band Wars" to raise money for their music programs.

Temecula Valley High School reached out in desperate need of Guitar Racks to store their instruments properly.
 As  their students spent more time fixing their instruments, then playing them. James personally went and  installed proper guitar racks from the funds raised from Band Wars. The teacher called so thankful to be able to teach his students again!

Power stuff, powerful.

If you were ever down on your luck, James would make sure your kid had a music instrument for school or even  buy your old gear knowing he would never be able to sell it.

His efforts have been mighty and from the heart!  The True Godfather of the Temecula Rock Scene.

Thank You Jamez!