James Brown may have been the “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” but in the world of punk rock, that title belongs to Danny Reynoso.

Whether on tour, in the classroom or on the radio, the 37-year-old has one goal in mind.

“I want to make a difference,” Reynoso said. “I want to go in there and change things; do things a little differently.”

Better known as drummer Danny Secretion, one-third of the popular Sacramento punk band the Secretions, Reynoso and the rest of the trio put a choke hold on the University Union Ballroom when they performed at “Punk Slam” Oct. 2.

It was the first time the event was held in Sacramento and mixed what the Secretions timekeeper calls “two of the finer things in life: punk rock and pro wrestling.”

Playing Sacramento State was a homecoming of sorts for the band; the two entities share a long-standing history. In fact, if it weren’t for Sac State, the Secretions may have never been.

Back in 1991, Reynoso and bassist Mickie Rat met while working as DJs at KSSU – then known as KEDG The Edge. A friendship sparked and the two started what has earned them “Sammie” awards the past two years for Best Punk Band – an award they don’t take lightly.

“If we won the Sammie awards 10 years ago, we probably would have snubbed our noses to it because we didn’t know any better, but since we’ve been doing this for a long time it’s nice to be recognized,” Reynoso said. “It’s nice to get a little friendly pat on the back.”

The punker’s musical talents don’t end as drummer for the Secretions.

He has spent time playing guitar in the Knockoffs and bass in the Devastates.

Most recently, Reynoso has been preparing to record a six-song solo EP. In addition to the vocals, he plans to take on the duty of every instrument as well.

“I’ve always wanted to get in there and lay down the drum track, lay down the bass, lay down the guitar…just do the whole thing myself,” Reynoso said enthusiastically. “Either people will like it or tell me I should just stick to the Secretions.”

While many fans have come to know Danny Secretion, the punk rocker, over his band’s 16-year existence, what they aren’t familiar with is his alias – fourth grade teacher.

For the past 14 years, Reynoso has been teaching at St. Francis Elementary School. It was during his 1994 graduation from CSUS that he got the call telling him he had a job waiting for him the following Monday.

Although the Secretions are a main priority for Reynoso, his life as an educator ranks equally high.

“Teaching is not easy, it’s a calling,” Reynoso said with a look of seriousness taking over his face. “It’s not something you can just try or say ‘I’ll fall back on it.’ I get very upset when people say ‘I’ll fall back’ on teaching. They have to make sure there’s something inside of them telling them this is what they should do.”

For Reynoso, taking a child who is not excited to be in school and discovering a way to turn them onto learning is as big a rush as any behind the drum kit.

“I teach like it’s an art form,” Reynoso said, who admitted he was not always the best pupil. “I look at each day as a performance. I want to be the teacher I wish I always had.”

While some might find the “punk rock meets teacher” pill hard to swallow, fellow band mate Paul Filthy loves it.

“I think it’s awesome,” Filthy said. “For someone playing in a loud, obnoxious punk band to be teaching kids is great!”

Reynoso makes a point of leaving the punk “attitude” outside of the classroom, but Filthy – who joined the band approximately two years ago – has seen firsthand that you can’t always take the punk style out of the teacher.

“I remember before being in the band,” Filthy said with a hint of laughter in his voice. “I would visit friends who were actually his co-workers at the school, and see him in slacks, dressed nice, but with spiky hair and leopard creepers (a punk-style shoe) on, teaching math.”

Reynoso’s calling to make a difference in the lives of others doesn’t end with the children he teaches.

Every year, he hosts a birthday show to raise money for his friend Jay Onyskin, a four-year cancer survivor, to help pay his mounting medical bills.

“He lives in Japan with his wife and children,” Reynoso said. “It’s expensive enough to live there as it is for a punk rocker, and it’s even worse when you have to pay for cancer medication. I figure if we can do a little something to help him out, it’s my way of fighting back.”

Reynoso has a particular hatred toward cancer after it took the life of his father in May 2006, leaving an emotional scar he carries with him today.

“It was the biggest event of my life. When my father was diagnosed with cancer, it destroyed me,” Reynoso said. “I never really knew what crying was until that period of my life.”

While his philanthropy work is another activity on an already long list of things to do, it is not where the busy punk rocker’s schedule ends. In what seems to be life coming full circle, Reynoso has found his way back onto the Sac State airwaves.

Every Wednesday night from 8 to 10 p.m., KSSU enters “The Blitzkrieg Zone.” The program allows him to play his favorite punk rock tunes, but more importantly, showcase some of the local talent sending in CDs.

The show came about after a switch in policy a couple years ago opened up the possibility for alumni to participate; an opportunity the Renaissance man is grateful for.

“It’s been a blast,” Reynoso said. “The people here are so enthusiastic and they’re so open to new ideas. It really has come a long way since KEDG.”

“The Blitzkrieg Zone” is believed to bring in the most listeners of any KSSU show, according to station manager and long-time Secretions fan Rob Young. The show’s popularity is due to its loyal fan base, Young said.

“Danny is so well-prepared every night and his music collection is so deep,” Young said. If some kid calls to hear a track from the third Misfits album, he’s got it.”

From Sac State to the Sacramento music scene, Reynoso has a full plate. Despite the hard work and busy hours, the punk rock teacher manages to stay grounded.

“You can’t be in a band called the Secretions and take things too seriously,” Reynoso said with a smile.

Jake Corbin can be reached at [email protected]