HEY..IN LIGHT OF THIS WACKY POLITICAL SEASON I'M GIVING FREE DOWNLOADS OF MY SONG "DIRTY POLITICIAN" UNTIL NOVEMBER ELECTION, SO...HAVE AT IT!!
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_______________They told me I was born a poor, black child . . . and admittedly, for a while I believed them . . . damn liars!
But, my earliest musical roots were formed listening to Motown and playing and singing Beatle tunes with a cardboard guitar (the original air-guitarist -) me along with the other nuts in our small group of Michigan wanna-bees. Then, I meandered about in a number of nothing bands throughout my early yout . . .
But, I did do time as lead vocalist/guitarist in a band christened "The 69th Street Funk." We garnered regional success in the Detroit area in the late sixties/early seventies (killed at college-keggers.) It was truly a great group of fine musicians. Our lead guitarist, a Caucasian guy named David Gibbons was one of the best players I'd met at the time, seriously stirring up images of Clapton or Hendrix. Our drummer, Alan Ryles was cousin to the original drummer of the infamous Parliament/Funkadelics, and had recorded cuts on one of their earlier albums. Bassplayer Robert Jeeter was quickly and accurately surnamed "Bobbin' Robert" . . . He too was fantasticly funky. "69th Street's" ethnic mix made for a truly satisfying, eclectic and rthymic experience - a kind of funky/psychedelic jam groove.
I also did a three year stint in another great group - "A Third Race."
These guys, Randy Chandler, Jim Hulseman & Steve
Moore (all great songwriters,) were truly the best. The
line-up was completed with the addition of a great friend
and percussionist, John Karpslis - and these guys were virtually ahead
of their time. We all enjoyed our experience in that line-up and
remain close friends to this day.
In the early Ninties' I spent five years as Director of a non-profit Third World
charity and had the privilege of traveling to many dire and tragic
places like Guatemala, Jamaica and Haiti. We also did extensive
relief work in Kenya, Uganda, and the likes. I bring it up only
because those particular years were extremely informative to my writing
and performing.
A few years ago I reached & held (for several months) the number one spot -- "spiritual blues" on MP3.COM for a song titled "CROSSES." That was in the height of their heyday. I also placed high in their hitlist for a number of other Blues tracks.
I've been writing, recording and performing for years and love it. As a
new resident of Nashville, I'm enjoying the city and looking forward to what lies ahead here.
You will be able to purchase my current CD "Better Start Swimming" on CD Baby very soon . . .
And I've recently been finishing work on a larger project. It's an 84,000 word fiction about a mysterious 60's songwriter. In the end the novel will have an accompanying music CD of original songs. If you'd like to read the first unedited chapter . . . check out my top blog titled "Lyrics by Theo."
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