I've been a part of the Stillwater, OK music scene since the mid 70's and have had the great honor of playing and recording with some of the finest artists to come out of Payne county. The most notable being Bob Childers, Jimmy LaFave, Greg Jacobs and Tom Skinner whom many consider to be the originators and musical gurus of "red dirt". My fellow Okie's have taken the sound of "the farm" to a whole new level by inspiring literally hundreds of new artists that are now spreading red dirt music all over the world. My personal bio: Born in Tulsa, OK and moved to Stillwater in the early 60's; I started playing bass at the age of 15 and began playing professionally my senior year of high school in 1979 backing popular Stillwater vocalist Franell LaFollette in the band "Midnight Express" which featured outstanding local guitarists Ricky Peale and Rod Boutwell. I moved down to Dallas, TX in 1980 and played with the hard rock band "Delirium" and then moved to the Florida Keys in 1985 and played the coconut circuit with the "All Night Flying Band" and worked at Looe Key Reef Resort. A brief stint in Nashville led me back to Sanford, FL in 1987 with the "Backdoor Blues Band" featuring Jackson Bigelow on harp and Les Thomas on drums. I relocated back to Dallas in 1988 and played the local clubs with "The Dave Tapley Band" doing Elvis and Beatles covers. I moved back home to Stillwater in 1989 and began working as the doorman at Willie's Saloon and joined "The Loaded Jodies" blues rock band which featured vocalist Ken Helton and Wes McMichael on guitar. In 1991 formed the Stillwater rock band "The Hickodelics" with long time friends, guitarist Mike Shannon (DaddyO's music) and Mike Hufford (Lamb Recordings) on drums and also featured Stillwater newcomer Jeff Parker (Xebec, City Tramps) on guitar. In 1994 formed the alt-country band "Twanglers" with Mitch Cason and Tom Skinner on vocals and Jimmy Arnold (Western Justice) on drums. In '95-96 played with good friends, guitarist Heath Roach and drummer Rick Foster (both from the Ringos of Soul) in a rowdy, rockin' redneck band the "Outlaw Spurs" that was way too much fun. In 1996 was session bassist on Tom Skinner's "Times Have Changed" recording for Binky Records which led to the formation of "Farmboy" with Eric Hansen (Mike McClure Band) on drums and "Jeffreaux" Parker on guitar. In 1997 was featured on the "Stillwater Red Dirt Sampler" and then later that year on Bob Childer's "Nothin' More Natural" recording again for Binky Records down in Baton Rouge, LA. I left Oklahoma in 1999 and moved up north to Kalamazoo, MI. and went back to school and got a degree in business. I relocated back to Tulsa, OK in April of 2003 and reunited with long time friends and bandmates Jeff Parker, owner of "Cimarron Multimedia" in Tahlequah and Ken Helton aka "Stillwater Santa" to form the "Rollin' Phattys" blues rock band featuring Dixie Weathers-Connor (Remainder Theory) on drums in July of 2007.
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