william

hit my site at Flamenco Cafe or Paco Strickland for music, rants, photos and more.I've been in hiding down here in the Cape Fear since about 1990 ... on the run mostly from ex-wives and Federal authorities ... was a rocker from about 1965 thru 1988 when I went back to school to get a degree in education. Found I still needed to play music .... fortunately I always dabbled in Classical guitar ... if you have those prerequisites ... Flamenco Guitar is the last challenge for guitarists. I took up the challenge and have not regretted it.1993 found WHQR station GM M Titterton (presently manager of Hawaii Public Radio) drafting me into a position of 'radio host' of Flamenco Cafe the nation's only regularly produced Flamenco music program, which has been in limited syndication, and aired regularly ever since ... in fact it is the longest running locally produced program in the area ... (knock on cyber-wood!)When WHQR abandoned local community programing for a more mainstreamed talk radio format, Flamenco Cafe, now in its 15th year of broadcasting, was picked up by commercial radio 106.7 THE PENGUIN (WUIN FM.) It's rather rare that a Public Radio program goes commercial--"...unheard of if fact, it usually goes the other way around" according to Hawaii Public Radio manager Michael Titterton.With my new partnership with the Penguin, ( which is a 'Triple A' music format station) Flamenco Cafe fits better than it even did on Public Radio, hits a larger, younger and hipper audience...it actually generates thousands of $ ... something that was not allowed before. Most excellant! The Penguin actively promotes Flamenco Cafe and my personal career as a Flamenco artist....WAY Cool!So I urge everyone to check out and support 106.7 the Penguin as they are the only station in touch with the community and also the only station to offer local programming.As far as my actual music gig...?I presently use mostly only percussionists as band mates ... the most notable being Troy Pierce, Greg Eavey and Tony Mallard. These guys make me sound much, much better than I really do!I have recorded and produced 12 CD's in this area and have sold close to 100,000 tapes and cd's since moving here in the early 90's. If I had a record label they would've given me some sort of award ... but they also would've taken alot of $ for that ''record on the wall" sorta thing! As a real independent artist, I guess I am the poster child!I am very greatful to my fans and friends for helping me to create such a lucrative niche in the Cape Fear market.OTHER ACTIVITIES .......I'm a psycho-fitness fanatic. I also am the dreaded 6 AM spinning insrtuctor at the YMCA and have run over 100 marathons and over 500 shorter running events. While my body has rebelled at these onslaughts I'm still pumping weights most days and can still swim 2-3 miles at any given time ... (but maybe not real fast.)At 56 years old ( and really feeling it somedays) I've become the oldest living person to take up surfing. I'm at the beach every opportunity to surf and while I'm not real pretty site as a wave rider, I thank my maker for giving me this new found drug!Thanks for supporting live music and for supporting me.Contact Information: Flamenco Cafe, dba William Strickland Productions 115 n 16th street Wilmington, NC 28401 910.762.3409