There are certain stereotypes that apply to military men and others that often get affixed to musicians. While both are usually a product of some Hollywood type’s over-active imagination, which admittedly makes for some good theater, neither rings true in daily life as often as one might think.

Consider Rusty Gurney. The Mahwah native spent nearly half his life in the Army, seeing tours of duty during the first Gulf War and in Panama. While he was a sergeant for many of his 23 years of service he certainly isn’t about to go all R. Lee Ermey on anyone.

Gurney is also an accomplished musician, having played locally, nationally and overseas. Yet he hardly seems the type to show up and start spouting off about peace, love and understanding though he may play you some Elvis Costello if you ask real nice.

If there’s a mold to either character, Gurney doesn’t fit them. He’s simply a man who loves music and understands the purpose of duty, commitment and lending a helping hand. It’s to that end that he became involved in the Suffern Music and Arts Festival [SMAF], which is scheduled to take place Sept. 5-6 at various locations throughout The Village.

Gurney’s role is that of Music Director or chef, helping bring all the ingredients together to help the musical side of it come off without complications.

"I just love music and I love the idea of serving," Gurney, 55, said. "I look at teachers and policemen and soldiers and first responders and they have the most noble jobs. They provide a service to the greater community and they do it not for the money but for the cause.

"And if you have kids, you want your community to be a better place. So you give of yourself. You try to make life there better and to do that you have to be helpful."

Gurney now teaches guitar to children after spending 12 years in the 82^nd Airborne Division. He’s also worked at The School of Rock and been the musical director at the Ackermann Music Center in Midland Park. His resume also includes a stint as the opening act for The Marshall Tucker Band.

He had been playing one night at Caffe Dolce on Lafayette Avenue when Suffern Chamber of Commerce president Aury Licata, among others, caught his act and enlisted him as part of the SMAF. He had been friendly with several of the committee members for years so it seemed like a natural fit.

"My skill as an organizer from my previous life [in the army] certainly helps," Gurney said. "And people think that the military negates creativity. But it’s the opposite. If you look at what [General George] Patton did to motivate his troops to march on the Battle of the Bulge, that took creativity. There are a lot of creative people within the service."

Gurney was one of them for nearly a quarter of a century. Now, he lives in Ramsey and has three children, Christopher [27], Melissa [17] and stepdaughter Jessica Colapinto [18]. He and his wife, Wheiwen Colapinto, have been married for four years.

All have helped shape him into the person he is today, a person who traded in an M-16 for a guitar. Sure, that would probably make a good movie and there are stereotypes to back the idea. But if you’re looking for someone on whom to base such a cliché-ridden flick, don’t look at Gurney. He clearly fits no one’s mold.