When he was young, Kory Soto of Gering had dreams of being a talented, popular performer like his dad, Bobby Soto, who spent decades playing drums for a local rock band, The Drivin’ Dynamics, that eventually was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame. Kory’s music dreams ended when he was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis at age 18. But although Kory has faced many hardships as the disease has progressed over the years, he no longer feels sad, angry or depressed about his MS and the way it’s changed his life. Instead, the 46-year-old Kory feels grateful that he still gets to be involved in the music industry – as a talented light board technician for local bands in Nebraska – and that he can be a positive example for other people who are battling diseases.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – When it comes to people who have made a big impact in the music business in the Panhandle, one name that’s likely to pop up is Bobby Soto.
Soto was a talented drummer for The Drivin’ Dynamics, the longest running rock band in Nebraska history that played almost continuously from 1961 to 2001. The band, which included Randy Meisner in its early years before he eventually joined the Eagles, was even inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame.
Soto, who hailed from Gering, joined the band one year after it formed and remained a key part of the band until 2000, when he passed away.
Soto’s music resume, of course, is certainly impressive. But his accomplishments in the music industry isn’t the main reason his son, Kory Soto, admires his father so much.
It’s the way Bobby Soto battled hard and stayed upbeat after battling Multiple sclerosis and later cancer that brings the biggest smile to Kory’s face. Bobby eventually died of cancer at age 54.
“My dad was such an inspirational person to me,” said Kory, who’s 46 now. “He was always very positive and never complained about anything – not even after he got really sick. Even toward the end of his life, when he could barely get around and couldn’t talk and was in a lot of pain, he still didn’t complain. He continued to smile at everybody and did what he could to make other people happy.”
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