Pickleville pianist is a firecracker guy

GARDEN CITY, Utah — A love of all things corny keeps Ralph Degn making the 100-mile round trip from his home in Wellsville, Utah, to the Pickleville Playhouse at Bear Lake nearly every day from May to September each year for more than three decades.

"I just love it. It's so much fun," said Degn, who has played the piano for the rollicking, vaudeville-type melodramas since 1978.

That's going on 33 years (subtract a few for the years when he served as an LDS mission president in the Sao Paulo North Mission and while he and his wife oversaw the Perpetual Education Fund for The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints in Brazil).

And he shows no signs of stopping despite being 70.

"I've played ever since I was about 4, 5 and 6 years old," Degn said. "I used to listen to an old Victor Horowitz record we had with a picture of his hands on the cover. I'd start the record, try to place my hands on the keys the way he did and play."

Degn went on to study piano in high school and college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in Latin American studies from Georgetown University.

He founded Fireworks West Internationale, the company that provided fireworks for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and several Super Bowl halftime shows.

He served as the mayor for the River Heights community, where he was also a bishop, an institute teacher, Boy Scout leader and a founding adviser for the Institute Men's Association. He's the author of two books: "Keep the Spirit" and "Title of Liberty."

He's a busy husband, father (of eight), community leader and businessman, yet he makes time every year for rehearsals and shows that require him to make the lengthy commute.

"I've had the chance to do all of my favorite things almost all of my life," Degn said. "I make fireworks, serve in the church and make cartoon music."

The cartoon music keeps shows like the one featuring T.J. Davis as Juanito Bandito going.

Degn sets the mood, dictates the pace and basically holds the shows together as he literally plays at the piano, watching the show through a side mirror.

He doesn't have any problem getting into the spirit of things, even after two decades at the piano bench.