And he gave himself more than a dozen years to accomplish it. When the time limit was up, he was ready to settle down, he said.
"My goal was that if, by 30, I wasn't a rock star, I wanted to coach my son's baseball team," he said recently at fellow musician Bill McDonald's home. "A few friends and I hopped in a truck and played until we were 30. Of all the places I've been, I came back, proposed to my girlfriend and I wanted to make Batavia my home. We've all been involved in music all our lives."
While his dream may have come and gone, his passion remains.
It's a love of music, which is shared by countless musicians who live or have lived in the area.
It's the same kind of passion that prompted local musicians to organize a homecoming of sorts.
Called "Ramble #1," the gathering runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Jackson Square, the venue between Jackson and Center streets.
Ghost Riders Bill McDonald and Bill Pitcher, Red Hot Trio members Vinny Pastore, Tim Pitcher and John Hoy; and Babe and brother Jim Catino hope the area gets flooded with the musical talents of yesteryear.
Like 'a fraternity reunion'
It's an idea that blossomed out of the group's experience playing for First Thursdays downtown, McDonald said.
They'd occasionally get guest performers -- old friends who used to play around town -- to join them for a number or two. Although this group represents a couple local bands, they're performing the Ramble as The Buffalo Road Show, a group known two decades ago.
The Buffalo Road Show will offer some continuity and a foundation for others who might not have an entire band together but want to participate, McDonald said.
"We're hoping to get some people from years ago, people who've brought so much joy to the area ... who were the fabric of this community," he said. "We enjoy doing this and we're giving back to the community. There's so much satisfaction seeing people smiling and knowing you had some small part."
Ever since they decided to go forward with Ramble plans, the e-mails have been threading throughout the country. That's because they all speak the same language, Batavia native Michael Murray said.
It's the language of music.
"The people may be from different times and different bands, but we all have the shared experience of playing music in the Batavia area," Murray said. "I really appreciate what the local musicians and the city of Batavia are doing for us foreigners. It will be better than a class reunion. More like a fraternity reunion."
Murray and fellow Sierra band members Bob Delson, Marty Buchalski, Paul Tydelski and Kevin Moyles used to play country and rock at Batavia's hot spots of the 1970s, places like the Batavia Country Club, Pink Panther and Angels.
Murray moved to Colorado with the band, then to Sand Diego, Calif., and eventually made his way back to Western New York. He said all but Delson have confirmed they're returning for the Ramble.
'The old stuff is better music'
Tydelski, known as Tye, believes there were so many "good musicians about us that we will probably have enough people for two to three times the allowed performance time."
The camaraderie and fun is just part of resurrecting old friends for the day, he said.
"But mostly the old stuff is just better music," he said. "It definitely speaks to the soul in ways only those of us who have traversed the time zone have endured. I do get a chance to perform with some of these guys from time to time, and it definitely is a moment of reminiscence."
Tydelski started singing with his sister, Caroline Kessler, at age 8. He studied guitar and later taught at Roxy's Music Store. He worked his way into a career as a musician, engineer and instructor, serving many clients in Los Angeles and San Diego. His studio work has included Kenny Loggins, Dan Fogelberg, Dolly Partin, Prince and Jars of Clay. Most recently, he completed a "surround mix" of sound, lighting, video and special effects for an outdoor show at the San Diego Zoo.
Back living in this area, he said, lets him see many old friend a couple of times a year. That always offers a bit of homecoming spirit, he said.
Hometown icons
Kevin Moyles was born and raised in Batavia but now calls Fallbrook, Calif., home. He is a singer and songwriter, recording artist and member of two groups plus his one-man acoustic show.
He's hungry for getting back to play with a few of "our hometown icons," he said.
"Selfishly, I started thinking that I can't wait to get back to the Pok-A-Dot for a roast beef on weck and a couple of white hots with everything," he said. "There has always has been and always will be a special place in my heart for this community. I believe that the fact that I am a native Batavian is a gift."
Life, music and one another
And there's Ken Veltz, born in Batavia and actively involved in music by the fourth grade at John Kennedy Elementary. He and band members Jim Catino on clarinet, Dave Disanto on guitar and Nick Naples on piano formed local group the Squires.
"I have great memories of that band and Batavia at that particular time in my life ... everything was music and only music," he said.
He and his fellow musicians drifted around and apart, leading him to his future wife and band vocalist, Jeannie, in 1972. They got married, had three children, formed a family band in 1998 and have been touring, recording or performing a live living room show ever since.
Veltz said he hopes to attend Saturday's event to join "an amazing amount of musical talent in Batavia."
"Batavia musicians have always been addicted to the real thing," he said. "In the midst of all the the puff and fluff that fills the current pop radio charts, I think people coming out to the Ramble will get a genuine feel for what music is supposed to be: fun, a party old friends ... a time to hug you kid ... and sit back and enjoy life, music and one another."