About Me
Well, we call ourselves songwriters... so this profile better sound good.
Okay, it goes like this...We'll start with me; Annie, because Shan is too complicated ;-)I was fortunate to have traveled the world thanks to my Dad. He served 23 years in the Air Force. I lived in Germany, Guam, the Philippines, and all over the U.S. Not to mention all the places I got to just visit. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to say "Thanks Daddy".
My family has always been big on music. I have a wide range of interests thanks to my folks. What, with my Dad being a Rock & Roll Cat, and my Mom being a Motown loving Diva (but more seriously hooked on The King).
My parents were always encouraging us to explore music and find out what moved us. I must say I loved everything from the smooth sounds of torch singers like Holiday and Torme... to some good ol' Punk Rock like GBH, the Ramones and the Dead Kennedys. However, I always have room for Miss Patsy Cline.
I always liked singing and if it were up to my Mom & Dad, it would have been my profession years ago. It's so nice having your parents believe in you.
Anyway, who would have thought I'd find myself in Luckenbach, Texas, one rainy evening, about to meet my soul mate, and on the verge of starting a new chapter filled with songwriting.....So, what about Shan?
Here is a little background on him. He was born in San Antonio, where his Dad was stationed, in the Air Force. He grew up in Fredericksburg, Tx. He is a 5th generation Texan with deep roots in the Texas Hill Country. What a wonderful heritage to have. Shan comes from a diverse group of ancestors whom comprised cowboys, indians and German Immigrants. Music stands out as well, with guitar, fiddle, and piano players and even one great-grandfather who was a professor of music and played the pipe organ. So, without realizing it Shan's love for melody is no doubt in his genes. In Fact, he has always been in love with music. Although Shan played the saxophone in school, and took piano lessons at a young age, he never did learn to read music, because he found he could play by ear. When he was 16 his Dad wanted to buy him a guitar. Now, Shan was a fan of the diverse sound of the 12 string guitar. So, when asked what kind of guitar he wanted... you guessed it.
He taught himself to play making up his own style of picking that seemed to be pleasing to his ears whether it was technically correct or not sometimes sounding like 2 guitars playing. With influences such as Jose Feliciano, Dylan,
Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Fogelberg and a myriad of other music styles and influences be them orchestral, pop, rock he immersed himself in the music. Little did he know he was building a foundation of music appreciation that would influence his future life. This was a life that would begin after raising a family and enduring a divorce that would completely alter his outlook and focus on the future. Alone for the first time in his life he turned to that old 12 string and discovered songwriting.
He may be a late bloomer, but he's got a real natural ability for song. Besides, music has truly been his "salvation".
To know him is to love him... not to mention his words and melodies. I'm grateful, everyday, for having met him.
Who would have thought he'd end up at Luckenbach, one rainy evening, about to meet his soul mate (um, he told me that), and on the verge of starting his life anew.
Yep, sounds like a regular old fairytale.
Anyway, we write songs together... lyrics and music, and we perform in venues in the Hill Country of our beautiful Texas. Who knows, maybe, one day, something will come out of all this
