It was last Wednesday morning in Camarillo, California, and Janice Hubbard and Richard Noel, the beloved Happy Music Ambassador, were enjoying a peaceful morning coffee. A crisp wind whipped through the air, and as the sun rose, its golden light bathed their comfortable home, Janice knew that the extreme winds, already whipping around, portended an ominous fire danger. A small brush fire had ignited in Moorpark, just ten miles away, but Janice was already on high alert for potential danger. Moorpark felt distant enough. The threat seemed more hypothetical than real.
What began as a minor brush fire then transformed into an inferno. Fueled by fierce, unrelenting 60 mph gusts, the flames surged forward, spreading with brutal speed.
Within hours, the fire had grown to over 1,000 acres, engulfing everything in its path and plunging entire neighborhoods into shadow as thick, suffocating black smoke blanketed the sky, swallowing the morning sun.
In a gut-wrenching twist, the escalating danger came crashing into their lives. Without any official notice, they recognized that they needed to move quickly. As they gathered their most essential belongings, Richard also faced the difficult decision of deciding whether to leave behind his treasured Roland 4X and a rare Sonola Ernie Felice acoustic accordion. Their computers, most of their clothes, and, painfully, countless other possessions were abandoned. Quick-thinking Janice managed to pack their gig equipment—one small act of preservation in a situation spiraling out of control, so they could still perform. But despite their best efforts, Janice lost more than she could have ever imagined. Soon to be among the ashes of their home were precious mementos from a lifetime music career and, devastatingly, her two beloved cats.
As the fire tore through Camarillo, consuming house after house, Janice and Richard were forced to reckon with their new reality. They found solace in the kindness of their friend, Johnny Young, who offered them a safe refuge in Ventura. In the wake of such unimaginable loss, they found an unexpected glimmer of hope. United by their love for music and shared resilience, Richard and Janice resolved not to let the flames silence them. They would perform, as planned, the coming weekend.
Tomorrow, Sunday, from 3 to 6 p.m. at “The Greek” in the Ventura Harbor, this intrepid duo will be playing. Proving to themselves and their community that, against all odds, “The Show Must Go On.”
You can reach Janice and Richard at : https://www.facebook.com/BonhomieDuo?_rdr