Life!

I was born in Austin, TX, and my family was a military family.  We moved all over the world including, Biloxi, Albuquerque, and Izmir, Turkey.  My Dad managed to have country bands in all of those places!

Music!

I started playing and singing professionally when I was 16, in my Dad's band, The Country Squires.  It taught me a lot about showmanship and how to deal with an audience.  It also let me learn at my own pace and be the energy of the band, as I was the young kid.

Growth!

I started stretching out in my late 20's, taking some jazz lessons from guys including Clint Strong in Fort Worth.  I became a follower of Larry Carlton, Robben Ford and other more "heady" players.  Musicality and melody became more important to my playing.  I also started writing my own material which ranged from country to jazz/fusion.  Recording at home was instrumental in learning the old "Less is More" mantra.

It's All Behind Me

This is my latest Album, finished in 2009.  Recorded mostly in my studio at home.  It took quite a while to finish it, but it finally made it to the printer!  Nine original tunes and 1 cover of a Shilites tune, done samba style.

This album has all styles in it.  Country, Jazz, Latin and some rock and fusion as well.  On the fusion instrumental, "The Chariot", you'll hear heavy influences of Larry Carlton in my playing.  The rest is song writing from my experinces and feelings, and textures from instruments that inspire.  This includes nylon string guitar, mandolin and Dobro.  Check out the video of "I'm Gonna Have a Good Day" on the video page. 

Moment to Moment

"Moment to Moment" was my first self produced album in 1992.  I had a large spurt of song writing and wanted to document this time in my life.  So I rented some studio time, invited some of my friends to lay down the rhythm tracks over the course of two nights.  I then spent the next two months or so over dubbing all the extra instrumentation, vocals and harmonies.  It started just as a project for fun, but everything sounded so good, I decided to polish it up as much as I could and make an Album.

Later that year it won some awards and nominations from the New Mexico Music Industry Coalition, including best original Country song!  I was also nominated in Jazz, Easy Listening, and Adult contemporary.  All entries had to be original music.

Other Projects

I've been fortunate to acquire some studio work over the years here in DFW.  This includes work for various clients at Phil York's studio in Irving (He passed last year).  Phil was a remarkable engineer and won several Grammys in his career, including for his work on Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" album.

I also continue to write and record covers in my home studio.  Sambas, country, rock, easy listening, 70's rock and more.  I'll share as much as I can when worthy material emerges.

P.S.  I'm working towards having my original material from my two albums available on CD Baby, itunes and other sites.  Stay Tuned for more! 

In the meantime, "It's All Behind Me" is available by request.  shoot me an email for arrangements. 

I've been playing music for a lot of years.  I have found that more often than not, you can't control when inspiration might show up in your heart or your head.

I've rolled out entire songs with lyrics in 30 minutes that were glorious, but it might have been an idea for years.  I've labored over lyrics and rhyme for years to hear nothing materialize that I liked. 

But one thing is consistent, the best writing comes from an idea or experience that you have lived yourself!  That is why a good song can reach so many people...because they have lived through the same experience.  Sure they will have their own particulars, but that is the beauty of the story telling. Invite your listener to draw a correlation to their own lives with your song.  As far as songwriting, my greatest inspiration is my life experience and my dreams for me and my family.

Now, for performance, that is another story.  There is no greater feeling than hearing when you have performed a piece well.  That could be a solo acoustic performance and vocal at a restaurant, or a really turned on guitar solo in front of a festival crowd.  Both events are very inspiring in their own way. 

As I have grown in years, my definition of a great solo has changed, though.  What I like to do is impress myself by comparing what I've played to my guitar " heros".  That's because I've learned what great music is to me.  Musicality is melody more than being able to recite  all your modes as fast as you can in every song!  Play something that can be Listened to!  I think guitarists have huge egos in general.  I think great guitarists check that at the door and look to inspire people with musicality. Enough said.

So, I'm always wanting to make my solos on a song better than last time, different than last time, and hope someone notices.