Johnny Modesto and the Nashville Parthanon

Johnny Modesto grew up moving between the Central Valley towns of Turlock, Bakersfield and Modesto. He once went by Johnny Modest, switching to Modesto when he tried his hand at speedway motorcycle racing and, later, competition barbecue. Cooking Santa Maria-style tri-tips for a caterer sharpened his skills on the grill. Through those years as a journeyman musician, he played bass in a number of wedding bands and took music classes at the junior college.