For Personnel Specialist 1st Class Richard Isotalo, music is more than a hobby; he lives it and breathes it. It's something that flows through his veins and rises from his lungs and ends in his fingertips every time he picks up a pair of drumsticks.

With nautical and musical themed tattoos down to the wrists, dark slicked-back hair and a calm, but outgoing demeanor, he pretty much fits the stereotypical image of a rock band member. A closer look reveals the rock-star sensibilities and a certain swagger in his walk. Nothing too overt like a vocalist, but definitely emanating charisma from someone who looks like they've performed in front of crowds multiple times.

"My passion for music started when I was young," said Isotalo, the deputy disbursing officer aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike). "I had a pretty rich musical upbringing. My parents were pretty open and diverse with what kind of music they listened to. Growing up, I heard a lot of Motown, rock and funk; really just about a little bit of every genre."

Most people have a hard time figuring out what they want to do with their lives. However, Isotalo knew at an early age that he wanted to be a musician.

"In sixth grade, I wanted to try my hand with drums, but my request got denied by my mother," said Isotalo. "She didn't want something that loud in the house, so she suggested I play the flute. That didn't last very long. I tried my hand at guitar, and I quickly learned I wasn't very good at it."

After going through several instruments, Isotalo still could not find his musical calling. He finally found his niche in the seventh grade, at the house of a friend who owned a drum set.

"I asked my buddy if I could jump on the drum set and play around; he had no problem with it so I started rolling around on the set for a little bit," said Isotalo. "After I finished, he asked me how long I had been playing the drums. I told him 'about fifteen minutes.' His response was priceless. 'Well you're a way better drummer than you are a guitar player.' And I've been playing ever since."

These mere 15 minutes stretched out over the years and led to Isotalo playing in a variety of bands, including ones with fellow service members. His diverse musical upbringing combined with travel experiences gained from his military lifestyle allowed his musical taste and style to flourish.

He draws most of his inspiration from professional drummers Dave Grohl of the iconic grunge-band Nirvana, as well as the modern progressive-rock band Umphrey's McGee's Kris Myers. Deep layers of southern rock fused with major 90's rock influence is what his current, local Virginian band, the Muckrakes, brings to the table. By definition, to muckrake is "to search for and expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, or the like." The name of the band embodies this rebellious, renegade nature of rock music.

"Our band makes mostly roots rock/Americana music," Isotalo said. "I've been playing in the band since 2014, but they've been playing in the Hampton Roads area for a while now."

Isotalo continued said being in a band and the keen friendship he shares with his four band members creates a unique dynamic similar to the military.

"There's a huge amount of camaraderie," he explained. "It's like being friends with someone, but it's more personal because you're making a bigger commitment to them and you're making music together, which is pretty personal. The members of the band spend a lot of time together outside of making music and it pays off for our cohesiveness on stage."

He further stated that being in a band has also lent to his success in the Navy, allowing him and his shipmates to work together as a tightly-knit unit and achieve goals through teamwork.

"Playing in bands has taught me to think outside the box and practice creative thinking when I'm working," said Isotalo "It helps me look at a problem at work and come up with the most effective solution in ways that might not be conventional."

In addition to being able to think critically to solve problems in an unorthodox fashion, he also stated that being in an environment as culturally diverse as the Navy has taught him valuable communication skills that translate to playing music in a band.

"Communication is very important," said Isotalo. "Having to work with so many different personalities and people throughout my career in the Navy has helped me realize that, and in turn, assisted my ability to communicate with my band when making music."

Isotalo continued in saying that although there are many positive aspects and takeaways about being in a band, his favorite part is performing live.

"My favorite part of making music is being on stage, playing for people," said Isotalo. "I enjoy playing live in front of an audience more than anything. I become laser-focused. I don't worry about anything else, I don't think about anything else - I'm just in the moment."

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