Schools
Who's Who in Benicia: Doug Houser
Local musician has been teaching and entertaining Benicians for decades.
Where did you grow up? In Chico
How long have you lived here? I moved here in 1977.
What do you do? I am a retired teacher. I taught high school physics and chemistry here for 33 years. I retired in 2009. The students here are what kept me going.
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What do you do for fun? I play music. I like to go on vacation and I play golf. I play 15 to 20 gigs a month so I don't have much time to get away, but music is the fun part of what I get to do.
How long have you been playing music? I've been playing guitar since I was 15. I began performing at a friend's wedding in Chico. I began my Benicia career in 1983.
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Where have you performed over the years? I played at the Mallard House, which is now Pappas. Then I started at Sam's Harbor from 1984 to 1988. I performed at , which was also Captain Blyther's and the Nantucket. I played at the Union Hotel after it become a non-smoking venue. I've been playing at , the upstairs, the Yacht Club and various private parties and weddings.
What are your favorite places in Benicia? The various restaurants. I like to go the library and read. I walk up and down First Street and out to the jetty.
What do you love about this town? It's a small town. Living here is ideal. You can walk around downtown and they have the Christmas walk, the Farmer's Market, all the fun things for kids to do, Little League, soccer, swimming. I am just a small-town guy. When I go the to the grocery store, I know 75 percent of the people in there, not to mention all the kids I taught.