During a basketball game at Fort Dodge Senior High School, Love Bomb was formed.

Senior Sam Salvatore and friend Trice Jakeman were talking about their love for music and decided to form a band.

“Love Bomb started with Trice and I at a FDSH basketball game,” Salvatore said. “Trice and I were talking about our love for music and how it impacted us so we decided to form a band.”

The two created a band and it has been something they have poured their heart and time into.

“Love Bomb is a band I formed with my close friends Trice Jakeman and Jaxton Jones,” Salvatore said. “I play bass and sing, Trice plays guitar and sings, and Jaxton plays the drums.”

The band has been going strong playing gigs around the area and the state.

“I enjoy the community and all the people I’ve met being involved in Love Bomb and I love being able to use music as a creative outlet to express myself and complicated feelings,” Salvatore said.

With drummer Jones, Salvatore on the guitar and Jakeman behind the mic, the group has entertained their fans.

“I plan on going as far as I can with Love Bomb to reach as many people as possible,” Salvatore said. “I want to use music to help people through hard times the same way it does for me.”

Salvatore has found some big influences through his music that have helped guide him.

“One Piece, Blink-182 and ’90s-2000s alternative culture have been some of my biggest influences,” Salvatore said. “One Piece is an amazing show that sends a message about following your dreams no matter what others say. Blink-182 is a band from the ’90s that I take a lot of inspiration from because of how they evolved over the years and how they can write meaningful lyrics with intricate instrumentals.”

“Nineties-2000s alt culture is all about the independent attitude and self expression,” he added.

Even with Love Bomb as his plan, Salvatore has remained busy at Fort Dodge Senior High.

Salvatore spends his time involved in choir, speech and bowling.

“I like how choir helped me meet new people and make new friends I wouldn’t have met without choir,” Salvatore said. “With speech, I like how creative speech can be and how it gives me more opportunities to learn new skills like musical theater and acting.”

Being involved in many things has allowed Salvatore to meet new people as well as see how others stay involved.

“I like being involved because it’s really cool to see how everyone is so different and has so many unique things about them but can come together over a love of specific things such choir, speech and music and it’s awesome to see what people can create when they get involved,” Salvatore said.

The senior will miss a number of things about high school, but most of all will be the people.

“I’m going to miss all the awesome teachers like Mr. (Matthew) Drees and Ms. (Lindey) Krug that helped me make my way through high school and all the performances like choir concerts, musical, and speech,” Salvatore said. “Being a Dodger to me means being a part of something bigger. When I think of being a Dodger, I think of all my friends and classmates and how we’re all going through this together despite our differences.

“Just because someone can be quiet does not mean they can’t do amazing things.”

After high school Salvatore plans to continue his music career.

“I plan to use my time to write music and perform in Love Bomb while going wherever the music takes me,” Salvatore said. “The end goal is to end up in California with my friends and chill on the sandy beaches of San Diego.”

Salvatore has a quote that he leans on to keep striving for more:

“It’s not about possible or impossible, I’m doing it because I want to.” – Monkey D. Luffy