Here's a little about me. I grew up in Milan, TN, a nice little town with not much to do. Being that it is such a source of entertainment most all kids in town became very good at throwing field parties and wasting alot of time. At least it seemed like that with most of my friends. But we grew up, put our lives in focus, and straightened up just in time to be what the geezers call "adults". Music has been a huge part of my world ever since I can remember. I come from a musical family where we used to gather at my grandparents home on the weekends when I was young and all the grown folks would play and sing. I was just a music fan until I was about 12 or so. My dad was a bassist and also had a Yamaha acoustic that used to sit in the corner. I decided to pick it up and give it a shot one day.................failed miserably! I just didn't have the patience for it. Started playing drums then and really liked it. Started a band with a couple of friends from neighboring schools called Nexxus. We had so much fun and dreamed of making it big and living the rock star lifestyles. We only had a couple of things going against us..............we were in junior high and we SUCKED! God bless my parents, they allowed us to practice at my house and didn't laugh too much. Time went by and one day while I was in my 20's I decided to try guitar again. Everything seemed easy this time, the chords, the timing, I even loved practicing. Not long after that I switched over to bass and have been going strong ever since. I found out that playing bass is not just a hobby, for me it was a new look at everthing around me. Peaceful yet there is so much power there. Really can't explain it, maybe it was a gift placed in my blood by my dad. As soon as I touched the instrument I knew that it was for me.
More on that in a moment, now a couple of things about my family. I have a wonderful wife (Kimberly) and two children, Layne and Lynden. I learn something new from them each day. Meeting my wife was like being pulled out of the ocean by a lifeguard when you're struggling to get air. It's pretty safe to say that the road I was on wasn't of the nicest travels and she helped me to make some life changing turns. She is the reason I get up in the morning and makes every day seem like we're still dating. Truly the cliched story of marrying your best friend!
Grew up influenced by the heavier side of music. I discovered KISS at a really young age, I was in the 1st or 2nd grade I believe. Soon after that I was turned on to Black Sabbath, this really sparked my attention. Black Sabbath was my "gateway" drug to the musical love of my life.......Death Metal. I remember the first time I heard Hellhammer, I still can't get over it. Then came Celtic Frost and I was a junky! The power,the authority, the scarryness, the feeling was wanting to break something, the knowing that not all would understand and that most wouldn't be able to handle it. I was never one to "go with the crowd" musically this definately wasn't for the masses. Once I was old enough to drive myself to shows I was able to see my heros in person doing their thing. Dreams of being that star just got stronger. Not the star that everyone sees on TV or hears on the radio, but the stars that were playing before me. The ones that knew they would never be rich or famous in the world because they have a love for what they're doing. To command a crowd of only a couple hundred with music not for the faint of heart was what I dreamed of. But that road is only for a chosen few I guess. I must've spent too much time dreaming about it 'cause it sure didn't turn out how I thought it would.
Have played in a few bands in the West TN area. Was involve with a blues band called Black Cat Bone with my cousin. We had some good times and still today BCB is the tightest band I've been in. Went from there to a band called Dead Sinner. A great bunch of guys playing everyday run of the mill radio rock mixed with some of the classics. Became good friends with those guys and hope to work with them again. In fact, still have conversations with the drummer on starting up something of our own in the future. Can't wait for that to happen, doesn't get much better that a couple of friends playing what they love. Would like to do something like a jam band thing, I think it will be a blast. Entertaining the college crowd with a sound that's very groove oriented sounds like one helluvatime to me.
Right now I'm doing some work with a band called The Grounders. They are a couple of brothers from Jackson (Michael and Adam King) kinda doing they're own thing. Playing music that's not heard everyday and that's fun to play. This is very different for me. I am playing stuff like Bob Dylan, Ray Lamontagne, Sam Cooke, The Temptations, Ryan Adams, The Stones (never thought I'd live to see the day I would be saying that!) and so on. Michael also writes his own stuff. His original stuff is just that.......original. Some wonderful music coming out of this guy's head so keep your ears open for his name.
Well, that's all for now. If you get a chance come out and see The Grounders and have a nice barley pop with us sometime.
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