Fiddlin' Pete Watercott

Millpond Music Festival Arkansas Traveler

2009-10-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

All Aboard the Liberty Train

2009-10-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

Pete Watercott serves up one last meatloaf

Wednesday, 09 April 2008

By Mike Gervais
Register Staff

4-8-2008

More than 20 years of service at the Bishop Senior Center wrapped up for longtime cook Pete Watercott last week as he prepared to settle into retirement.
The beloved chef served his last meal – meatloaf, his choice – at the Senior Center on Monday, March 31, where dozens of friends and longtime patrons of the kitchen were in attendance to see him off.
The farewell lunch was one filled with laughter, plenty of hugs and heaping helpings of well wishes sent Watercott’s way.

Watercott began his career with the Bishop Senior Program in 1987, after working for a time as the kitchen manager at Whiskey Creek. Before working at Whiskey Creek, Watercott got his introduction in the kitchen while working for the Conservation Corps in the Eastern Sierra
At the time, according to Watercott, he was working with a crew building a dam near the Lone Pine railroad trestle and “everyone would complain about the food.
“I volunteered in the kitchen and had the opportunity to work with the cook there and had the chance to learn from him,” Watercott said, explaining that working in the kitchen was usually considered a punishment among the other corps crew members.

Pete Watercott (right) posts with guests at his retirement luncheon last Monday. After more than 20 years as head chef at the Senior Center, Watercott is looking forward to retirement and more time to pursue his interests. Photo by Mike Gervais

At the conservation camp, Watercott cooked two meals a day for 60 people. “I learned a lot about institutionalized cooking there,” Watercott said. “We had some vegetarians in the camp, and I’d make them a little vegetable stew, or something like that” to ensure everyone had a good meal.
After his time with the Conservation Corps, Watercott and his wife, Kathryn, spent several years traveling between Minnesota and the Eastern Sierra, working and playing music.
In Bishop, Watercott found a job at Whiskey Creek, where he spent a total of 11 years in the kitchen. Six of those years he managed the other cooks before a friend and manager of the Inyo-Mono Senior Program, Charlie Broten, recommended he apply for a position with the newly constructed Senior Center kitchen in Bishop.
That was in 1987.
“Charlie Broten, the director of the senior program, said, ‘Pete, you need to go down there and apply for that job and be our senior cook,’” said Watercott.
The senior program interviewed 30 people for the newly opened position. “I didn’t know anyone on the interview panel, and I was hired. I was the first cook in the brand-new kitchen,” Watercott said.
At that time the kitchen had a staff of three, including Watercott. Those individuals spent some time working and observing at the senior kitchen in Lone Pine to learn the ropes of cooking at a senior kitchen.
“The Senior Center was a real different type of job than Whiskey,” Watercott said. Not only was he making many friends through the program, but he was able to focus more on his music career thanks to the regular hours the job provided.
In addition to focusing on his musical career, Watercott was able to become a member of the Northern Inyo Hospital Board of Directors and participate on the board for the Inyo Council for the Arts, as well as continue cooking and provide a community service.
“It was one of the best experiences,” Watercott said.
From 1991-96 Watercott owned and operated the Airport Cafe in Bishop. During that time he again focused more on business than music, all the while continuing as the head chef at the Senior Center.
He decided to sell the restaurant in 1996 and again devote more time to music.
Watercott continued working at the Senior Center and playing music until last week, when he officially retired.
“I plan to continue with the music and now I have a lot more freedom to play,” said Watercott. “I’ve got a lot of different interests; wood working, gardening – I’m a builder, so I think I’ll be able to stay busy.
As for his involvement with the community, Watercott plans to continue his work on the Northern Inyo Hospital Board of Directors and with the Inyo Council for the Arts.
As for the Senior Center, “I’ll still be involved, but I don’t know what will come up next,” he said.
“I could see doing some volunteer work and fundraising for the Senior Center,” he added, noting that the state’s financial straits have trickled down to the program.
“I think this is a really good program, and I hope that when people make decisions they remember that the program reaches out to 400 people every day that are home bound, and the difference this makes in their lives,” said Watercott.

LIVE! Pokonobe Dinner Concert 6/22/08

2008-06-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Wedding Party Music!

2008-06-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Wounded Warriors/ Our Young Heros

2008-06-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Pete & Neil,
Your performance far surpassed my expectations! You were PHENOMENAL! The guys, (Wounded Warriors), & other guests sure enjoyed having you with us! Looking forward to doing it again!

XOXO,
Laurel
Operation High Altitude
Wounded Warrior
Disabled Sports Project
Find out how you can support!
www.disabledsportseasternsierra.org

Music, Mustangs, and Mules!!

2008-06-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

2008-04-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Watercolor by Elko, NV artist, Sam Brown

Fiddlin' Pete
written by Dan Connor 2008

They say a man's doin' good if he's good at one thing
One good thing can give a lifetime of service
But if a man does everything well, and nothin' goes to Hell
That man makes everybody nervous.

And Fiddlin' Pete plays music on the fiddle
And like everything else he does he does it big, not little
He's a man of many hats,
If talent was weight he'd be so fat
It'd take a week to see all of Fiddlin' Pete

Pete got his name back in old St. Paul
Maybe then it was easy to choose one
But if quality workmanship can make a nickname stick
There's no end now of what we got to choose from.

I'm talkin' shinglin' Pete, table top Pete, cabernet Pete too
There's dog cart Pete, course bean fart Pete don't stink like me and you
Song writin' Pete, Bar BQ Pete, there's Catfish Pete in the cat bird seat
Orchestra Pete, architect Pete, it's a miracle Pete finds time to sleep
There's gardenin' Pete, manure Pete, they know that Pete on Willow Street
Plumin' Pete, strummin' Pete and 27 other Petes doin' somethin' better than you

And Fiddlin' Pete plays music on the fiddle
He does it well like he does everything else
from the greenhouse to the griddle
He gets more done in a day
Then ten men on plumbers pay do in a week
Fiddlin' Pete

Hey if it's OK, I got one more thing to say
30 years of knowin' Pete recommends it
The one thing Pete does best, that stands above the rest
Is his kind and generous friendship

Yeah Fiddlin' Pete plays music on the fiddle
We all love him in a major way, not just a little
May his new retirement plan let him stay a renaissance man
And let us keep Fiddlin' Pete
We wanna keep
Fiddlin' Pete
Keep tappin' our feet, to
Fiddlin' Pete

more comments

2008-01-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Pete,

Our Elderhostel group really enjoyed your campfire program on July 18th. You got the highest marks on all the evaluations-which was no surprise to me!

Barbara

Hi Pete,

We were all enthralled by your artistry-not just on the fiddle, but the guitar and the mandolin. Curley Fletcher has a great representative in you. His name will live on because of you.
Thanks for the music! (Bishop to Bodie Ride, May 21-26)

Cheers,
Sue

2007-07-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

2007-07-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

even more of what others say

2007-07-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

I would like to share some of the kind words that I have received from some of the folks who have heard my show!

Hi Pete -
We were discussing your playing at our Homeowners Assoc. party the evening of Saturday, September 1st in 7 Pines. As you suggested, I went on-line and absolutely had a blast listening to your music and reading about you!!! I do believe that your talents would make our Labor Day event a HUGE success. Please tell me that you WILL be able to play for us. I will be happy to send you a check in advance.

I look forward to hearing from you and, of course, meeting you in person!

ML Taylor

WOW PETE..
our youngest son is standing over my shoulder and says he is telling all his friends in college about your music!!! and we are so happy to see this...I sure hope it works out for June 24th as we have to be out of the Lake Mary lodge the following Saturday ...we will be arriving June 23rd and seeing you perform will top off our vacation!!!

Thanks Pete...we are crossing fingers it will indeed work for June 24th for you because it does for us!!! Thank you 100 times.

The Griffith's Glen, Susan, Brett, Todd, Cambria, Evan and friend Collin

Hello Pete,

Just had to pass along how very much Steve and I enjoyed the music, the camaraderie, tastey dinner, and wonderful "story telling" this past Sunday evening at the Pokonobe. Bill and Gail have been visiting the Mammoth area for the past 5 years -and one of the highlights last year for them, was discovering you!

They purposely scoured the local paper when they arrived last Thursday to see if you were in town.....their intention was to "gift" us a memorable evening for our 32nd wedding anniversary! Steve and I both had to agree the mountain biking was excellent, the hiking was awesome, the scenery was incredible - but our evening at the Pokonobe was the "icing on the cake"!

When we think of our first visit to Mammoth - you will be at the top of our list. We look forward to listening to the CD's -thank you for sharing your gift!

Thank you - and God bless!
Sheila and Steve Gutierrez