By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
He may very well be the most recognizable guitarist in Sioux City, the air guitar playing Little Caesars pizza guy on Hamilton Blvd.
He goes by Dustin Origer and he's not stopping at air guitar. "On my bucket list, is to play every instrument known to man before I die," said Origer.
He's been promoting Little Caesar's pizza from the sidewalk 40 hours a week for 4 years now. Hard rock and metal are playing in his ears.
"Here's the big thing people get confused with a lot, it's not cardboard, it's plastic. It just looks like cardboard," said Origer.
No matter what it's made of, it's made Dustin a Sioux City legend. It's taken him a long way from a troubled past that involved a traumatic car accident, bullying and of course, break ups.
But it was music that rescued Dustin every time.
"It's always there. It never goes away. Sometimes I'll get a headache and I'll like turn on some Van Halen and I'm like 'yea'," said Origer.
It's his undeniable passion that caught the eye of Gia Emory, co-founder of the Sioux City Conservatory of Music.
Gia Emory said, "Music, I think, moves him so much and makes him so happy that if we can just share that and be a part of what he's all about. He is what he is, I mean, he is really that guy."
When planning for the Conservatory's 1-year anniversary concert, Gia asked Dustin if he wanted to perform. He was quick to say yes.
Show time consisted of Dustin on stage with his fake guitar and Ace, a guitar teacher, actually playing guitar behind the curtain.
And as if that wasn't enough, Gia and her husband, Ron, surprised Dustin on stage with a brand new guitar, his first ever, and a year's worth of guitar lessons, free of charge.
"I just have to say thank you. They're like the sweetest people in Sioux City. Like, the nicest people I have ever met," said Origer.
Since meeting Gia Emory, Dustin spends every Monday at the Conservatory. His goal is to learn to play a full song by next summer.
To check out Dustin's full performance, just click here: Dustin's Performance
