A long time ago a wise man told me "if it can't come from your heart, it just ain't worth playing". Well, I've been trying to live by those words ever since I heard them. I've tried just "playing for the money".....it just doesn't work for me .......and I've pissed a few people off because of it. I apologize for that, but that's me. If I can't feel it, I sure as hell ain't gonna like playin' it.I've been playing drums for over 40 years. I did the rock, new wave, and punk stuff in the 70's & early 80's. Then I met a fella named Mighty Joe Young that changed my life.....he's the guy that got me hooked on the blues and taught me about playing from the heart. It's actually a pretty interesting story so remind me to tell you sometime. He was a great friend and mentor and I miss him every day. Since Joe took me under his wing I've been blessed to work with, not only him, but some other names you may recognize like.... Sam Lay, the most recorded drummer in blues history, with whom I spent many years traveling around the world playing but with him out front leading the band instead of behind the drums.... Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bob Stroger, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, I've toured on and off with these men and let me tell you there is no more humbling an experience than being on stage with the true legends of the blues. Little Smokey Smothers, Joe Filisko, Barrelhouse Chuck, J C Smith, and the late Barkin' Bill Smith, AC Reed, and BB Jones. Guys like Sam Cockrell, Mike Wheeler, Toronzo Cannon, Mike Morrison, Larry Williams and Joanna Connor with whom I spent nearly 7 years playing in a house band. Felix Reyes, and Dave "Elmo" Bailey who taught me how to "swing". Daryl Coutts, Harry Garner, Mark Wydra, Harlan Tersen, EG McDaniels, and the list just goes on and on and on. Many of these I've had the pleasure to record with and some just tour or play locally. Regardless in what capacity I worked with these musicians, I've learned and expanded my own musical ability from having had the opportunity, and for that I thank them all.The older I get the more I realize that the road is not the place for me any longer. I need something more stable in my life at this point. Right now I'm in the process of "re-discovering" my musical side and maybe even my personal side, and I'm very curious to see what I come up with. I know I’m not looking to be up front in the spotlight….. I'm very content in the background just doing what I do best......playing from my heart.
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