When Program Director, Sam Cullison, does something, he does it all the way. Five years ago, he began taking blues guitar lessons with acclaimed Seattle guitarist, John Miller, one of the foremost authorities on country blues guitar. In the first four years of lessons, Sam did not miss a single night of practice, taking his Baby Taylor with him as carryon-on luggage on business trips. "I picked up the guitar in high school and then put it down again for 30 years," he states. "This is something I've always wanted to do."
Sam's interest in music goes at least as far back as high school. He was elected the president of his high school choir, and starred in several school musicals, including Oklahoma and Bye Bye Birdie. In his early days of private practice in Monroe, Sam also sang lead in a barber shop quartet.
His latest project, "Sentinel Event", is a classic rock cover band comprised of several Swedish managers. The group made their public debut at a management retreat in March of this year and most recently played to an audience of more than 1200 people at the company picnic at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.
Sam owns nine guitars, but he plays an American made Fender Stratocaster on stage. His wife, Beth, says the instruments are stacked up in the hallway leading to Sam's home office, but she doesn't mind stumbling over them because he's finally getting to do something he put aside for medical school, residency and then practice. "I'm not sure where all of this will lead," she adds, "but I don't think our retirement will involve much bridge-playing."