Born well within wedlock to Mr. and Mrs. Truax on Oct. 3, 1965, I began playing the electric bass 12 years, 2 months, and 22 days later. Hooked would be a gross understatement... The instrument basically took over my existence at that point. Bass obsessed and possessed, but I am capable of discussing other things. I generally choose not to though.
You know the drill by now... I started playing for one reason, but ended up playing for an entirely different reason. My mother was a singer in a folk/country combo when I was growing up, and one day while I was noodling around with an old acoustic at one of her rehearsals the bandleader said, "Roy, do you like the guitar"? I said "yes ma'am", (things were still pretty formal when I grew up down south) and she mentioned the combo's need for a bass player. Nothing came of it until the following xmas my parents gave me a Kay electric bass. I was like "Huh?" but dove into it, got to high school found some guys that were playing and literally couldn't put the damn thing down.
In '86 I was fortunate enough to be featured in Mike Varney's "Spotlight on New Talent" column in Guitar Player magazine. It afforded me the type of exposure to be invited to participate in a variety of projects and soon I found myself moving from North Carolina to Detroit, Philadelphia, New York (where I currently live) and other places. Then six years later in '92, I was featured in Karl Coryat's "Scouting Report"; Bass Player magazines similar column. Before and since then, I've been in a variety of bands and recording projects... And still find time to spend with my family... "because a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." - Vito Corleone
Bass playing for me could never be summed up in a quick and easy philosophy. So I won't even try. I've always thought any and all instruments should and can play a variety of roles. This concept of "rhythm guitar" or "lead guitar" for example. Why not just "guitar"? The same idea can be applied to bass. No need to subcategorize or pigeon hole a particular instrument, or the musician playing it. With bass, some guys are comfortable with a supporting role and do it well, while others choose a more front-man type expression. Why not both?
Thank you for reading my profile...
