John Prentice, dressed in a yellow hat and the classic Johnny Cash shirt with the word “CASH” emblazoned on it, sung his heart out through Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” on a day when it felt a little like the Sunshine State.

And what better way for such a day with blue skies and temperatures in the high 60s in Western Washington than World Music Day? For the first time late Wednesday morning, people in the city of Aberdeen congregated to the busy intersection of South K and West Wishkah streets for a singular purpose — celebrate one of the world’s few universal languages in its own way. World Music Day was first celebrated in 1982.

At the end of the approximate hour-and-a-half event, 35 people teamed up to play a group rendition of “Come As You Are,” the classic Nirvana tune written by Aberdeen’s own Kurt Cobain. And then two lucky people — Matt Harless and Cyndie Avery — won the raffles for an Alvarez acoustic-electric guitar and an Alvarez ukulele. Harless and Avery were stoked to win their instruments. An “anonymous music lover” donated the funds for the instruments, which Guitar Galactica — 204 S. K St., in Aberdeen — then donated. Harless said he had never owned a guitar so it was “pretty cool” to win.

Prentice, armed with his acoustic Yamaha guitar, showed the musician makes the guitar as he strummed his way through classic songs from not only Led Zeppelin, but the great Johnny Cash. And he did so with a smile on his face, as did so many others Wednesday.

“I am absolutely loving it,” Prentice said about World Music Day. “It turned out awesome. I’m glad a lot of people showed up. And the weather’s great too.”

Prentice started “dinkying around” with the guitar for 20 years, but that seems to insult the way he plays now. Prentice said his favorite musicians are Hank Williams Sr., and Cash. The two musicians stay with Prentice wherever he goes because he has the letters for “HANK” and “CASH” spelled out on each of the knuckles of his right and left hands.

The former metalhead — his favorite band was Metallica — changed his ways a few years ago.

“Metallica was my favorite band until I heard Hank Williams Sr., and Johnny Cash,” Prentice said. “I almost stopped listening to Metallica.”

A little bit east from Prentice was Benjamin “Benjie” Sergent and his daughter Serenity. Benjamin had a story to tell about the sleekly finished acoustic-electric Silvertone guitar. And the good news for Aberdeen residents yearning for more Cobain stories is the one around this particular Silvertone.

“I bought this guitar from the dude who taught Kurt Cobain, Warren Mason,” Sergent said.

With Serenity by his side, Sergent brought that feeling of peace to the curb on West Wishkah Street. Just down the way from him were more musicians who were enjoying themselves quite a bit.

One of those people was none other than a Nashville playing, sweet-sounding soprano, Belle Tatum.

Tatum, originally from Hoquiam, was in town for two reasons — to graduate with her associate degree from Grays Harbor College and to see family. On Wednesday, she was sitting on the sidewalk as she strummed “Teenage Dirtbag,” a 2000 classic by Wheatus. Not only did she travel about 2,500 miles to return to Grays Harbor, she chose to spend part of that time playing for her fellow Harborites. And to do so, she leaned on a tough time for everyone.

“I taught myself through quarantine how to play,” said Tatum. “So it’s not been super long, but still three years.”

Tatum’s voice is more advanced, however, but that shouldn’t be a surprise.

“I’ve been singing since I was six,” Tatum said.

The grinning Tatum seemed to have a blast Wednesday.

“I think it’s so fun,” Tatum said. “Music unites. I think this is really reflective of how music can unite people and I really love it.”

Tatum was really hoping to win the acoustic guitar. While she strummed, she earned herself a new fan. Phil Slep, the tour guide for those Nirvana Talk & Walk & Ride tours, seemed quite impressed by Tatum.

“She’s gonna be a star one day,” Slep said.

Randy Beerbower, an area historian and huge music fan throughout Grays Harbor County, said he thought World Music Day was awesome.

“I think it will only get better,” Beerbower said. “And Wil only had about two weeks to put it together. And every musician I’ve talked to, loves it.”

Wil Russoul, the event’s emcee, told the crowd he learned from the city of Aberdeen — which closed the strip of South K Street that is between Wishkah and Heron streets — it usually takes 90 days to close down a street. It took way less than that this time. Russoul and other people were talking about it as an idea the week before World Music Day.

“So this is pretty nice of them,” Russoul said about the street closure, which enabled the musicians and other people interested in the event to safely wander around the area. “I’d say the city of Aberdeen is supporting us.”

And Avery, the Hoquiam resident who won the ukulele, was standing by her friends. They were egging her on to share more about herself.

“I’m gonna take lessons now to find out how to do this,” Avery said about learning to play the ukulele.

Avery, an avid fan of Prince, was happy to talk about World Music Day, as well as Aberdeen’s first celebration of it.

“It was fantastic,” Avery said. “It was so wonderful. I loved seeing everybody singing together. That’s what brought me down. I saw it in the newspaper.”

Avery, trying to figure out which way to describe her feeling of excitement, said “Yay!”

“It’s unexpected and really wonderful,” Avery said. “I feel honored in a way. Now I get to be a part of the music scene!”

Thursday, June 22

6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Clinton “Dogger” Mullins — The Cave — 823 W. 1st St., in Aberdeen

Friday, June 23

8 p.m. — Big Love Band — Pine Tree Bar and Grill — 101 Ocean Ave., in Westport

Sand and Sawdust Festival:

11 a.m. — 1 p.m. — Johnny The Capo and the Bad Boys — Ocean Shores Convention Center – 120 W. Chance a La Mer NW., in Ocean Shores

2 p.m. — 3 p.m. — Washington Old Time Fiddlers — Ocean Shores Convention Center

3 p.m. — 5 p.m. — Deer Swerver — Ocean Shores Convention Center

Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze:

1:45 p.m. — Captain’s Daughter — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

3 p.m. — Chaste Treasure — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

4:30 p.m. — Tempest — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

Saturday, June 24

9 a.m. — Nirvana Talk & Walk & Ride Tour — Nirvana Coffee Company — 205 S. I St., in Aberdeen

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Richard Jones — Ocean Pours Taproom — 759 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW, in Ocean Shores

7 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Dustin Adair (Acoustic) — The King Tide Family Bakery and Pub — 300 E. Dock St., in Westport

8 p.m. — SR 109 — Ashley’s Pub Haus — 710 J St., in Hoquiam

Sand and Sawdust Festival:

11 a.m. — 1 p.m. — Johnny The Capo and the Bad Boys — Ocean Shores Convention Center – 120 W. Chance a La Mer NW., in Ocean Shores

12 p.m. — 1 p.m. — Washington Old Time Fiddlers — Ocean Shores Convention Center

3 p.m. — 5 p.m. — Deer Swerver — Ocean Shores Convention Center

Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze:

9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. — Captain’s Daughter — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. — Chaste Treasure — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

8 p.m. — Tempest — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

10 p.m. — James Howard Band — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

Sunday, June 25

Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze:

2 p.m. — Chaste Treasure — Westhaven Drive, in Westport

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World John Prentice, guitarist and singer, carries his favorite musicians, Hank Williams Sr., and Johnny Cash, wherever he goes.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Belle Tatum, a sweet-sounding singer who traveled from Nashville, plays “Teenage Dirtbag,” from Wheatus, on Wednesday to celebrate “World Music Day.” Tatum, originally from Hoquiam, taught herself to play guitar during the quarantine days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but she’s been singing since she was 6.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Benjamin “Benjie” Sergent plays the acoustic-electric Silvertone guitar he purchased from a “locally famous dude,” named Warren Mason. Mason, as Sergent tells it, taught Kurt Cobain how to play the guitar. Sergent told the guitar’s story as his daughter Serenity sits and listens.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World A man stands smiling amongst part of the large, happy group who assembled to celebrate “World Music Day.” Musicians gathered Wednesday to play music and at the end of the approximate hour-and-a-half event, they joined each other to play a unique rendition of “Come As You Are,” a Kurt Cobain classic from Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album.