BY MAUREEN PARKER for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 7/10/2026
There are people you admire, there are people you respect, and then there are people you simply feel fortunate to have known. For me, Serni Solidarios is one of those people. I equate knowing him with being in proximity to greatness.
Serni Solidarios has been in my life for what feels like forever and a day. Around the Pacific Northwest, and especially here in Tacoma, he’s one of those people whose fingerprints are all over the music scene. He’s an artist, a mentor, a connector, and someone whose influence reaches far beyond the stage.
I first met Serni years ago when I was about 12 or 13 years old. He’s been in my life that long. He used to play music with my father, so in many ways, I’ve been watching him my entire life.
Now let’s talk about Tacoma for a second.
Tacoma has always been a hub for music of every genre. Back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, the club scene was absolutely incredible. Jazz was hot, hot, HOT, and musicians from far and wide came here to play, collaborate, and soak up the energy that this city had to offer.
That’s one of the reasons I wanted to tell Serni’s story.
This isn’t just about one remarkable musician. It’s about preserving a piece of Tacoma’s musical history through someone who has lived it from the inside. Serni has been there for so much of it, and through his memories, we’ll get a glimpse into an era that many people either never experienced or have almost forgotten.
I’ve watched him perform in just about every setting imaginable. Small venues, theaters, festivals, large concert halls, you name it. I’ve even had the privilege of sharing the stage with him a few times.
And let me tell you something …
If anything goes down in Tacoma involving music, I promise you this man knows somebody. From the biggest names to the newest musicians, they’ve either worked with him, worked for him, been booked by him, or met someone because of him. Small venues. Large venues. Stadiums. Doesn’t matter.
This man knows EVERYBODY.
We’re going to start at the beginning because if we’re going to tell this story, we’re going to tell it right. From the time he was a little boy until now.
Fair warning …
This is going to take a while.
This man is like Carmen Sandiego.
We’ll be talking on the phone and I’ll casually mention something, and he’ll say, “Oh … I’m not in town.”
“Where are you?”
“Zürich.”
A couple of weeks later …
“I’m in Norway.”
Next thing I know …
“I decided to fly to Nevada to go skiing.”
Sir …
What?
It’s wild.
Anyway … back on track.
Serni started playing piano when he was around 6 years old.
Here’s the part that made me shake my head.
It wasn’t even a real piano.
It was a toy piano.
Not only did he teach himself to play on a toy piano, but when I asked him whether he’d ever taken lessons, he simply said …
“No.”
Get out.
Seriously …
Get ALL the way out.
That answer kind of makes me low-key hate him just a little bit while loving him at exactly the same time because … who does that?
Then comes another “You’ve got to be kidding me” moment.
By the time he was in junior high school, he was already gigging professionally.
Not only that, he kept winning talent shows at school until one of his teachers finally said, “Why don’t you audition for the Jerry Lewis Telethon?”
Now, for those of us who remember the Jerry Lewis Telethon, we know that wasn’t just some local talent show.
That was television.
Those marathon broadcasts raised money for muscular dystrophy and reached millions of viewers. If you earned a performance slot, America got to see you.
Serni was on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
That’s a pretty big deal.
Here’s another fun fact.
He auditioned alongside 12-year-old Diane Schuur.
Yes …
That Diane Schuur.
She earned a prime-time performance slot while Serni landed an early morning appearance.
A little bit of a bummer …
But he still made it onto national television.
While other kids were delivering newspapers after school, Serni was gigging with adults.
He was playing the organ in chapels at Fort Lewis.
His parents thought he’d eventually grow out of music … or maybe get drafted.
Neither one happened.
Instead, he just kept playing.
By the time he reached his 20s, he wasn’t just performing anymore. He was organizing gigs, connecting musicians, booking entertainment, and eventually working for a prestigious college known for bringing in incredible talent, often before the rest of the country knew just how incredible those artists would become.
And if you know anything about Serni, none of that is surprising.
He’s spent decades building relationships, opening doors for artists, connecting people, and quietly becoming one of those behind-the-scenes figures whose influence reaches much farther than most people realize.
That’s why I wanted to tell his story.
Not because he’s famous.
Not because he would ever ask someone to.
But because people like Serni are the keepers of our musical history. They remember the clubs, the concerts, the late-night jam sessions, the musicians who came through Tacoma before they became household names, and the friendships that made this community what it is today.
Those stories deserve to be told.
And lucky for us …
He’s willing to tell them.
This is only Part One of what will be a three-part series.
In October we’re going to sit down with Serni, pick his brain, and hear stories collected over decades of music, travel, performances, friendships, and unforgettable moments. This is a lifetime of musicianship, and I genuinely appreciate that he’s allowing me the honor of helping tell it.
So stay tuned.
Because trust me …
We’re only at the giddy-up.
If you can’t wait that long, you can follow him at facebook.com/serni.solidarios
