Playing music is what I love … anytime, anywhere!!! … it’s in my blood … my Grandfather, “Daddy Red” was a Big Band leader”. He played stride piano and blew a mean sax … he gave me his horn which I still play! His brother “Dutch was also in the band and played tenor banjo. My Mom was a pop/jazz singer and piano player. Mom & Daddy Red taught me a lot about harmony, rhythm, Swing & Jazz of the 30’s &’ 40‘s era. My Dad loved old time Country … Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash & Southern Gospel music. My sisters listened to the Beatles, Stones, Doors, Otis Redding & Soul, Pop & Rock of the Woodstock era. I soaked it all up & had favorites in every style!  

 

At 13, … I was struck by a kind of musical-religious experience … I heard the famous bluesman “Little Walter” play his harp and I was transformed… utterly knocked out … converted to the Blues! He played thru a funky distorted little amp which made his harp sound almost like a trumpet but man, he bent the notes with such feeling and soul … I began a quest to learn how to play like him. 

 

I ran to Fred’s Music and bought my first Old Standby Harmonica for $3.50… I blew that harp till my lips bled! After “woodshedding” for several months, I was on my way! My friends and others started asking me to play instead of go away. Soon, I was playing at living rooms jams, field parties, boat docks, camp outs …down on the corner … for smiles and tips … utterly hooked! 

 

During this time I also learned to play rhythm guitar. A buddy let me use his family’s beat up old Stella flat top with thick rusty strings high above the fret board… agony and ecstasy. Now my fingers and lips bled! …but I was on a mission.I hit another milestone my junior year in High School. I started jamming with Jeff Silbar who became my best friend and musical soul-mate. Even as a teenager, Jeff was a massively talented songwriter, guitarist and singer. We began jammin’ everyday after school. Soon we formed a great little Blues-Rock band, “Junction”. We played high school dances, special events, college parties, frat house gigs … eventually, we had a manager, booking agent, groupies and volunteer roadies. The band rented an unfinished 2nd floor of the White Cloud Laundromat for a rehearsal studio/club house for a couple of years. We practiced , partied, played pinball downstairs, partied, worked out our parts, wrote a few songs,  played gigs, drank gallons of beer … and made a little money!!!

 

Junction was a fabulous band with serious talent. We played a cool eclectic bunch of covers from the Stones, and Howlin' Wolf to rocked out versions of Hank Williams plus some decent original songs. We lasted about years till things slowed down and during summer break, leading into my junior year of college … Jeff's dad got a musical connection in Nashville. Jeff and I were ready to take our music to the next level so we said goodbye to the band and moved to Music City together.

 

In the mid-70‘s, Nashville was really buzzing and we were on fire! I continued college at Peabody while songwriting and playing little gigs around town. It wasn't long I was offered a job in a  band for a Tour with

La Costa Tucker (Tanya's sister) . She had a couple of coiuntry hiits and was promoting her album. With permission from my professors, I completed my studies on the road and had a fantastic experience playing music through much of the US. After the tour (about 6 months) I came back to Nashville and continued writing and working several various jobs. I had some songs published but nothing real successful. So, I did another tour with a country rock band playing clubs, bars and hotel lounges... paying dues ... we didn't make much money but we survived and had some fun.

 

After a year or so, I decided I needed more expertise in order to really "make it" so I headed back to Lexington joined a great country band, lived in the drummer's basement which I converted into a 4-track recording studio. I kept learning and improving and applied and was accepted with a partial scholarship to  Berklee College of Music  at Boston. I worked my tail off at Berklee and on the weekends, played in in the T McGinness Blues Band which was a killer band.

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After three years in Boston, I returned to Nashville in the summer of 1981. I got a lots of low to no paying gigs in town and jammed with a many incredible bands and players. My musicianship had really improved but the Nashville music scene was and remains saturated with the best of the best. It was rough for a while and I was low on peanut butter & crackers.  Still it was an exciting time. I was praying seriously for help and one day in the spring of 1982 the phone rang for an audition to tour with with Dolly Parton. I went to the first rehearsal and got the gig to play sax, harmonica and utility keyboards. It was a dream gig and Dolly was truly wonderful. The band was incredible and I was on cloud nine. 

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to be continued.

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