HISTORY

The Family

Grandma Dorothy "Dot" Blake

Pianist

Although she never pursued a professional career as an artist, Dot was a pianist in her community. Her artistic ability was passed on to her son William (Beck's father), and her daughter Linda (Beck's aunt), both of becoming artists in their own right.

Helen Jungfer

Organist, Vocalist, Composer, Entertainer

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Helen spent her life composing music including musical comedies, and was a well known local artist in the town of Glasser, New Jersey as well as Jefferson Township. Some artists of her time whom she performed with include Abbott & Costello. She was Beck's great aunt, and sister to Beck's paternal grandfather.

Linda "Lyn" Hoffman

Type & Graphic Designer, Mixed Media Artist

Linda graduated the duCret School of the Arts in Plainfield, New Jersey. From an early age, Lyn realized the evolutionary nature of art and wisely found her place in type design, ultimately created multiple fonts and becoming a well known local artist in Brick, New Jersey. She designed signs for a wide variety of local businesses, fashioning them with gold inlay in wood. She was featured in Word Processing magazines as well as the book, "Modern Encyclopedia of Typefaces" by Lawrence W. Wallis.

Bill Hoffman

Father, Drummer, Vocalist, Entrepreneur

William "Bill" Hoffman, born in Rahway, New Jersey, realized his ability to hold a beat at nine years old watching the Johnny Carson show, also known as "The Tonight Show", using shoe boxes and sticks on his bed to mimic the show's intro. His aunt Helen paid for his drum lessons with Russel Moy of Linden, New Jersey. Russ performed and recorded with top names in entertainment, such as Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. and countless others.

Young Bill practiced at home with his first drum set in his basement, with the help of father, using a makeshift stage and lights. His father, William Sr., was also a vocalist.