I have a lot of interests. First of all, I live and breathe music. I'm also interested in technology. And the media. I'm even interested in politics, which happened by accident. There are others...
I'd like to meet:
The people in the musical heroes section on mySpace.
Music:
My music collection is diverse, and I appreciate singers, songwriters, and musicians. This list is comprised of my favorites, alphabetized by the first letter of their first name:
Al Perkins
Albert Lee
Alice Newman & Scott Vestal - ASV
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Alison Prestwood
Amanda Wilkinson
Andrea Zonn
Andy LeftwichAnne Murray
Barry Gibb/The Bee Gees
Bethany Dick
Bill Monroe
Billy Panda
BJ Thomas
Blackhawk
Blue Highway
Bob Marley
Bonnie Raitt
Brad Davis
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Springsteen
Bryndle
Buddy Miller
Byron House
Candlewyck
Carl Jackson
Carly Goodwin
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Casey Driessen
Cat Stevens (TAFKACS)
Chet Atkins
Chris Brown, drums of renown
Chris Hillman
Chris Thile
Christy Sutherland
Cindy Kalmenson
Clint Black
Crosby Stills & Nash
Dan Tyminski
Dana CooperDarrell Scott
Dave Pomeroy
Dawn Langstroth
Dennis Kaplinger
Desert Rose Band
Dixie Chicks
Doc Watson
Dolly Parton
Donna Hughes
Dread Clampitt
Duckbutter
Dwight Yoakam
Earl Scruggs
Edgar Meyer
Electric Light Orchestra
Elton John
Emmylou Harris
Eric Clapton
Erin Enderlin
Gary Nicholson
George Harrison
Glen Campbell
Greenbroke
Gretchen Peters
Hal KetchumHarry Stinson
Herb Pedersen
Holly Williams
Hot Rize
J.D. Crowe
J.D. Souther
Jackson Browne
Jaime HannaJames Taylor
Jamie HartfordJeff Black
Jeff Lynne
Jennifer HansonJerry Douglas & his band
Jim Lauderdale
Jim Photoglo
John Cowan
John Denver
John Hartford
John Hiatt
John Moore
John Starling
Johnny Cash
Jon Randall
Jonatha Brooke
Karla Bonoff
Kathleen Edwards
Kathy Mattea
Keith Sewell
Kenny Edwards
Kenny Rogers
Kenny Vaughn
Kim Carnes
Kim Richey
Kris Kristofferson
Laurie Lewis
Lee Roy Parnell
Leon Russell
Linda Ronstadt
Lisa Brokop
Little Big Town
Lyle Lovett
Maia Sharp
Manassas
Mark O'Connor
Mark Knopfler
Marty StuartMatraca BergMedeski, Martin, and Wood
Mike Marshall
Nanci Griffith
Neil Diamond
New Grass Revival
Nickel Creek
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Pam Tillis
Pat Bergeson
Pat Flynn
Patricia Conroy
Peter Cetera
Peter Wernick
Phil Collins
Phil MadeiraRandy Sharp
Restless HeartRingo Starr (recent stuff)
Rob Ickes
Rodney Crowell
Roger Miller
Roy Orbison
Sally Barris
Sam Bush for President..err, Sam Bush/Sam Bush Band
Sawyer Brown
Scott Vestal
Shawn Camp
Sherrie Austin
Sheryl Crow
Sonya Isaacs
Spring Huber
Stephen Mougin
Stephen Stills
Strength In Numbers (Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer)
String Cheese Incident
Stuart Duncan
Suzy Bogguss
T. Graham Brown
The Beach Boys
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Kinleys
The Mamas and the Papas
The Vinyl Kings
The Wilkinsons
Three Ring Circle
Thursday's Child
Tift Merritt
Tim O'Brien
Tom Petty
Toni Catlin
Traveling Wilburys
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vince Gill
Vinny Santoro
Wendy Waldman
Willie Nelson
Zane Williams
Yes, I know. That's a damn long list.
As time goes on, I will add more favorites. Lately, I find I like trance/electronic music too.
Movies:
I haven't seen many movies recently. Favorite actors/comedians include Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Michael Douglas, and Dustin Hoffman. I have likely seen movies that have made an impact on me or entertained me, but I can't think of them right now.
Television:
I hardly watch any TV except the occasional Colbert Report or Countdown with Keith Olbermann; instead, you'll find me listening to radio and music. A frequent talk radio program I listen to is The Stephanie Miller Show; occasionally I will listen to music programs like Down Yonder.
Books:
While not an avid reader of books lately, I do read plenty of articles, computer books (geek), and sometimes detective novels from time time, along with what is required in my schooling. However, I will soon be engulfing the driver's manual and just enjoying every twist and turn of the rules and regulations within it.
Heroes:
My heroes list includes educators and friends like M. Atchison and R. Peterich, two teachers who were much more than teachers to me, but people I could look up to and talk about much more than homework with them. There are just some moments that I will never forget; they both provided so much encouragement and helped build confidence in me. I would say the same about J. Quintrell, and I'm not even an expert in his field of excellence, but he always encouraged my best performance and for me to have confidence in myself and what I was attempting to accomplish.
Matraca Berg, for not just being an amazing singer-songwriter, but also an amazing person. I thank her for always encouraging me to grow, for believing in me and for being so supportive, for listening, for offering advice, for being there when I needed it. I could go on. There aren't a lot like her out there, and I'm incredibly grateful to count her as a friend, not just a boss. Her entire family has been so gracious and generous to me. Just absolutely wonderful. The same goes for the aforementioned teachers, who were not just my teachers by any stretch of the imagination.
Sam Bush and his band, for being such a positive force of energy and all around good guys, to me and everyone else.
Musical heroes include:
Sam Bush
Byron House
Jeff Lynne
Matraca Berg
Jeff Hanna
There are others, no doubt. Emmylou Harris. I list Sam Bush and Byron House (and those Sam works with) because they always are pushing the envelope musically, with such a positive outlook; Jeff Lynne has produced and worked on so many records I love; Matraca Berg and Jeff Hanna for their numerous talents, whether they be as singers, songwriters, musicians or producers. Matraca is such a prolific songwriter, of songs like "Nobody Drinks Alone", "Appalachian Rain", and "Strawberry Wine" (just one of many hits she has written); Jeff is also a wonderful writer (most successful for "Bless the Broken Road", but he has written many more stunningly beautiful songs) and is the leader of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, for which I have a lot of respect for him. He and his son, Jaime are both incredible people as well.