I became interested in country music when I was about 8 years old, after my mom passed away. My sister and I would sing Gospel songs in church. On weekends, my Dad and his brothers would get together at our house to play Gospel, Bluegrass and Country Music. I recall sitting in the corner of our living room when they'd pick and sing. I said to myself, one of these days, I'll be singing and playing with them. Our family was pretty poor and I guess I didn't have the right to ask for a guitar. But I was determined to have one, so I begged and begged. Finally my Dad went to a hock shop and got me one for my birthday. The only thing was, it didn't have strings. Dad handed me a new set of strings and said the bridges are inside. you learn to string it and tune it on your own. it didn't take me long and I was playing right along. As time went on, I'd be off on my own singing where no one could hear me. My Dad came in one day while I was by myself and heard me singing. So the next time, we had company, Dad made me get a chair, and sit down in front of them to sing and play the guitar. I guess that was my first real audience. I didn't want to sing but Daddy insisted I was to sing. When Daddy said do something, you better jump and boy did I. I sat there crying and singing at the same time. But I got through it. I sang "Come a Little Closer Darlin". After I was through everybody clapped their hands and said how good it was. The tears were soon gone. That was the start of my music career. My Dad would take me to the honky tonks and let me sit in with the bands picking Wildwood Flower and a little of Under The Double Eagle. I loved singing those old Jerry Lee Lewis songs. He was my hero. Songs like What Made Wilwaukee Famous, Another Place Another Time, now that's Country Music. Of course, I was raised listening to Merle Haggard, Porter Wagner, Buck Owens and George Jones. Let's just say good Country Music. At about 18, my first experience (getting paid) was to play with a band at a club called The Other Place. The first song that I sang was The Key's In The Mailbox. That was the beginning of many years of playing different clubs. I soon met up with a good friend by the name of Margo Smith. With her help, I played for people like herself, Jim Glacier, Dave Dudley, Johnny Wright, Joe Stamply, Bobby Bare, Kitty Wells and Ronnie McDowell. I also went on tour with Margo and Conway Twitty while I lived in Ohio. Later on, I was divorced and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, remarried and started playing country music around there with bookings in Iowa, North and South Dakota, Texas and Arizona. In between playing music in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, I've managed night clubs such as Rodeo Nites in Santa Fe and the Caravan East in Albuquerque as well as doing all maintenance of the clubs. While managing Rodeo Nites, I had the opportunity to meet several movie stars such as Lou Diamond Phillips and Jon Bon Jovie while they were doing the movie "Young Guns". After closing time they came in to relax and we became good friends. They asked me to be an extra in the movie but with the responsibities of managing the clubs and performing with the band I was just to busy. I also met Ricky Schroder, Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall. Robert Duvall was in the club listening to my band when he told me about a movie he was doing. It was The Lonesome Dove. A great western epic. He offered me a part playing a blacksmith and as being one locked up in jail for being disorderly. (I made time to do it.) A lot of movies are made in Santa Fe so you never know who you may run into. When first moving to Santa Fe, I started my own karate school. I am associated with International Kempo Karate Association. Where I ranked fourth degree black belt under the late Senior Grand Master Edward K. Parker. Who taught Elvis Presley and worked with Bruce Lee to name a few. The style I taught is called American Kempo. I live in Nashville now. I enjoy writing and performing. I have traveled many miles and played several clubs in my life time but I never tire of picking and singing the Good Old Country Songs and Music. Thanks for stopping by. Please come back and visit again.
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