(Publisher’s Note: There’s the headline atop this article, and then there’s the rest of story. But know now, his smile hides it all. The churning of his mindful mind, the constant creation, and plotting of a path that will lead him to his next big-band gig, symphonic recording, or to his grade-school classroom to teach a batch of children the glory of music. But that smile. It stops you. Makes you happy. It allows for reason to believe you should smile, too, and to ask questions that permit this tale to travel beyond his perma-grin.)
He was 15 years old – and looked maybe 12 – when he timidly introduced himself to live music fans throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, and that’s because he had decided he was ready to perform in front of more people than his family, friends, and his classmates at Wheeling Park High.
His name? Eli Lambie … and wow, one must ask themselves, who does the kid look like?
Since then, Lambie has performed the platinum tunes from back in the 1960s-70s, he’s composed and performed classical arrangements with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, and while it has always seemed he can play every existing instrument, he has fine-tuned his vocals to “Wow, who’s that?” levels.
Now, Eli is an award-winning music educator in Marshall County that parents feel lucky to have in their school district. It was his peers and administrators who voted for him to receive the 2023 Society for General Music Teacher of the Year, and he’s been the music teacher at Washington Lands Elementary for the past five years.
It did not take that long, though, for Lambie to reach a different milestone, one connected with his career as a live performer and as a band leader here in the Upper Ohio Valley and beyond. For a few years after emerging onto the live and local music scene in the Wheeling area, Eli was a piece of someone else’s orchestra, but now he’s the conductor of his very own, Eli and the Mojo Kings.
THAT’S IT! Right? You’ve got it!
That’s when it finally comes to you! The look-alike! It’s that movie actor, the one from Spider-Man and The Lighthouse, Aquaman, and Platoon … that Willem Dafoe … that’s who looks just like Eli Lambi.
Wow, lucky actor … lucky Uncle Willem, that is.
What do you cook really well and how do you know you do?
I wish I could say I cooked something well, but I am an awful cook. Here’s a brief anecdote to sum up my abilities as a chef; When I was a kid, I followed my mother’s cookie recipe while I was at home on a snow day. I used confectioners’ sugar instead of flour and…. well… you can imagine how that turned out. Today, I take great pride in my ability to make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich on an English muffin. I’m fortunate to have a family and friend network of fantastic cooks, and I eat very well when I’m on the road for shows.
If I’m invited to a dinner and need to bring something, I’m bringing the wine! (I’m known for always bringing great wine to dinner parties thanks to Corey at Casa di Vino in Center Market.)
What musical genre do you prefer the most, and why?
I don’t have a single genre that I prefer most. My tastes are always changing, and I go through phases of playing and listening to different types of music. One genre I always seem to come back to is classical music. I love listening to Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Liszt, and other Romantic period composers. Their music is timeless, elegant, and beautiful.
For what reasons did you form the Mojo Kings, and do you feel the band has been as successful as you thought it would be?
As a young musician, I had the honor of playing with many talented artists. I enjoyed being a part of their projects, but I was ready to start my own. Our valley is saturated with talented musicians, and I’m fortunate to have eight outstanding musicians in my group.
Success is difficult to measure, and there is always room for growth. I don’t know if I knew exactly what to expect going into the Mojo Kings, but I have really enjoyed how the journey has unfolded for us thus far. I am proud to say that we have brought happiness to a lot of people through our music.
The group gets better and better every year, and I can’t wait to see where our journey takes us next.
Why do you believe you’ve experienced so much success as a music educator?
When I was in school, I had many tremendous music educators that inspired me to pursue music. They modeled how bringing the gift of music to their students can change their lives for the better. Without their positive example, I wouldn’t be the teacher I am today. I love what I do.
Making music with my students brings me great joy. We are always singing, dancing, moving, and playing instruments. Keeping students engaged in class helps them to grow a love and passion for music. When I was in school, I was not the easiest student. I was creative, off the walls, and always thinking/acting outside of the box. These quirks have become an asset in my teaching.
My wild lessons use music to take students everywhere. When students enter my room, they never know where they’re going to end up. We could end up in a foreign country, on the face of the moon, or in the middle of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
When students leave my room, they leave with smiles on their faces, a greater sense of connection to the world and the people around them, and a love of music.
If you could play one role your uncle has played in a movie, what role would it be?
I don’t think my acting skills would ever come close to measuring up to my Uncle Willem’s. If I could do anything, I’d love to write the film score for one of his movies. I love writing for orchestra and believe that great music can make or break a movie.
