EP292 Cars and Guitars with guest Randy Alameda
Randy Alameda aka Randy Arnold is a big time Gibson guitar collector and auto enthusiast. Jhae travels to Albuquerque for a sit down with Randy and to see the guitar vault.
Summary: In this episode, host Jhae sits down with Randy Alameda, a 75-year-old Albuquerque icon, at an undisclosed South Valley location. Randy shares his vibrant life story, from his music career touring with the band Ashley Pond to his passion for Acura NSXs and his medical sales background. He recounts surviving a life-altering motorcycle accident, his extensive guitar collection housed in a custom vault, and his reflections on love, loss, and resilience. This episode is a heartfelt dive into music, cars, and perseverance.
Chapters:
02:03-2:55: Randy discusses moving to Albuquerque 40 years ago, living near a B1 bomber facility, and local environmental issues.
3:19-4:08: Introduction to Randy’s guitar collection and the custom vault built by his neighbor.
5:10-9:02: Randy’s backstory, including avoiding the draft, Air Force medical training, and a severe motorcycle accident that nearly left him paralyzed.
12:59-20:49: Music career highlights, touring with Ashley Pond (1980-2000), and a tragic incident involving a bandmate’s girlfriend.
21:03-24:23: Origins of Randy’s music passion, sparked by his grandmother and early guitar discoveries.
26:04-28:44: Insights on veterans’ healthcare issues, drawing from Randy’s medical career and VA experiences. 30:18-32:14: Encounters with music legends like Rick Derringer and ZZ Top, plus a van crash anecdote. 33:09-35:09: Randy’s favorite guitars, including a 2005 Les Paul from a Jimmy Page run.
40:23-50:36: Randy’s love for Acura NSXs, inspired by Ayrton Senna, and his ownership of 1991 and 2017 models. 57:44-1:12:05 Reflections on music as the heart of his life, plus a poignant story of a lost love.
1:12:05-1:28:03: Tour of Randy’s guitar vault, showcasing rare Gibsons like a 1959 Les Paul Special and a Johnny Winter Firebird.
1:29:05-1:32:25: A look at Randy’s NSXs
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