About Me
Born: Charleston, South Carolina, sometime in the past.
Like the song says: I started out younger. Its hard to do better than GP on that one!
I attended Santa Monica High after moving here in the very early 60s. As it would happen, another guy who was there at the time was Ry Cooder, whom I would also encounter many times over the years.
After graduation, I moved to Atlanta for a year and a half of study at the University of Georgia, Marietta, and began playing professionally there. I played for about a year with BUDDY MOSS, and thereafter returned to California to work in the War on Poverty and play music. I ran into Ry again about that time, and he introduced me to TAJ MAHAL, another guy who influenced me in a major way. Also about that time, I happened to play one of the local coffeehouses (the name of which I cannot recall) and ended up opening for JOHN FAHEY.
Since then, I have been pursuing a career as a musician, songwriter, and producer. I havent had any hit records, but some things have been on the radio. I have been mostly a sideman for the last 20 years, simply because it was the path of least resistance.
Recently, at the encouragement of my darling wife, I have been more actively pursuing the solo act.
Here is a partial list of folks I have recorded with:
RECORDED WITH
Stephanie Bettman / Loretta McNair (Myo-Uon Music, Deeper Than Indigo) / Will Glover / A Touch of Country (TOC III-full release) / Kelly Bowlin / Kari Gaffney / Ruby Davis (Hee-Haw television show).
Also, various jingles, voice tracks, and jingle/soundtrack sessions, including Silent People in the early days of A&E Television.
INSTRUMENTS
Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, Bass, Keyboards (Organ), Cap Steel, Bouzouka (Celtic), Banjo, Dulcimer, Hand Percussion. Also Lead Vocals, Back Up Vocals, Vocal Arranger.
Heres a partial list of folks I have performed with or opened for:
OPENED FOR
Chicago / Ten Years After / Gabor Szabo / Sons of Champlin / Poco / John Fahey / Booker T & the MGs / Maria Mauldaur / Billy Boy Arnold / Albert Collins / Soul Asylum / Starship / Len Chandler / Doc Watson / Peter La Farge / Tom Waits / Jack Tempchin / Dave Mason / Mary McCaslin / Mel McDaniel / Diamond Rio / Exile / Dan Seals / The Outlaws / Brother / Joe Ely / Taj Mahal / And many, many.....
PERFORMED WITH
DC Blues (San Diego) / Buddy Moss / Sam Chatmon (Mississippi Sheiks) / Loretta McNair / Second Time Around / A Touch of Country / Will Glover / Chris Gaffney and the Cold Hard Facts / The Butts Band / Way Out West /
And many, many...