SULTAN, Wash. — It's one of the great hard rock riffs of the '70s. So why is former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher playing "Barracuda" in a Sultan bookstore?
To keep a dream alive.
Jim Tinney's dream.
"My dream was always to build the kind of place I didn't have growing up," Tinney, the owner of Kiss The Sky Books said. "A place full of books. Books have been my solace and inspiration and entertainment for my entire life. I am an inveterate reader. I read constantly."
After a career in high tech Tinney bought a turn of the century building on Sultan's Main Street in 2016. A classic rock fan, he dubbed it Kiss The Sky Books after a Jimi Hendrix lyric and began renovations.
"I did a bunch of structural work on this building," Tinney said. "Tons of structural work. It was falling into the street."
People would often stop by to see what was going on. One day it was Fisher, who became something of a regular.
"After a while I said 'Jim, you know, if you build a stage over there in that corner I'll come out here, and see if I can generate some business for you'," Fisher said.
Just when everything was looking up, an old illness started acting up for Tinney. Complications from a bone marrow transplant.
"They found a treatment that would probably work for me, but it was very very expensive," Tinney said. " It was $25-to $30-thousand a month."
The treatment was draining resources even as Tinney continued to work on the books, the coffee stand and the building.
"He's taking these really hard core meds for his cancer and he's just working, working," Fisher remembered. "He's got this vision and he's going to make it happen and, my God, was I ever inspired."
Tinney's vision always involved creating community. On this Saturday the community responded.
"We've got all these great musicians performing tonight for free," Fisher said. "Nobody asked for money or anything."
There were open mic veterans and touring musicians performing that night. The founder of a drum school and session players also played. From Central Oregon, B.B. King's old drummer Tony Coleman had driven up to perform.
People bought tickets. Others donated online as Fisher's team live streamed the event.
It was an evening full of great music, but it couldn't end without "Barracuda."
Watching from the side, Tinney said at times it seemed unreal that the lead guitarist of a band he loved in college was playing in his store.
"I can't even believe it! That a guy who's in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is so supportive of what I'm doing here with a little bookstore," Tinney said.
But Fisher says Kiss The Sky Books is more than a little bookstore
"It's like a green patch in the desert and the more we hold onto it the more life we attract" Tinney said.
And that's why the liveliest spot on this Saturday night was a bookstore in Sultan.
Fisher and friends raised more than $3,000 for Kiss The Sky Books, which is open seven days a week. There are open mic nights every Wednesday. You can find Kiss The Sky Books at 401 Main Street in Sultan.
Fisher has just started a Patreon account featuring musical, visual, instructional and interactive content. "Whiskey Woman" is the name of his latest single.
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