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Ken Wittman and Scott Schell came together to write a love song this year, "True Love at First Sight," dedicated to one unforgettable night 35 years ago when Ken met his wife- to-be, Dawn, as he was playing in a band at a local hotel on Feb. 2.
"We met one Groundhog Day! So, we know when we see his shadow, we have six more months of marriage," Ken laughed. The Wittmans explained how grateful they were to Schell as they now have a true love song.
Ken knew Schell's father as a pastor, but later became acquainted with Schell when he played with jazz drummer Lou Feist, who also encouraged his music. Feist's son, Danny, was the drummer in one of Schell's first childhood bands, The Little Rock Band. Ken met Schell when he moved into the area and has considered him "such a good friend ever since."
Ken has built exquisite bass guitars in his workshop for over 60 years, one of which Schell plays on now. He said he makes bass guitars because, "I love it, and I only sell what I already built." He tells people who come to him, "If my bass speaks to you, then we can talk, but if not go to the wonderful music stores of Robert M. Sides or K & S." Schell added, "Ken is a uniter. He wants people to feel comfortable and for everyone to work together to get what they need."
Schell remembered in "True Love at First Sight" that after Ken met Dawn, he sent her a bouquet to see if she was interested. This became part of the song.
"Ken waited and waited," Dawn laughed. "I worked at a medical lab at the time when the bouquet came and one of the girls said, 'What are you not telling us?'"
Schell explained how the song captures this memory in the one of the song lines, "I sent a bouquet to find out what she'd say."
"No one likes rejection," Ken said. "I was happy when she was interested!"
Ken said he was working in his workshop on a bass guitar and caught a melody in his head for his wife -- and the next day, and the next day after that.
"This is the way The Beatles wrote their songs," Ken said. "If it was there the next day and the next day after that, it was good."
He brought the melody to Schell, and they had an awe-inspiring time creating the song.
"Scott is a master songsmith," Ken said. "He put his own spin on the song, (written) in my words, and eliminated the 'I' and the 'me."
'True Love at First Sight' can be found on YouTube and Spotify.