THE SWEET SOUND

According to industry standard genres I'm Rock but I never know what's gonna pop out. Western swing or homegrown funk. When I play live I'm sneaky and when the audience least expects it I'll whip out a great, beloved cover song everyone can sing along. Maybe a classic country tune or a rock the walls gem. I think singing together connects us as only music can. I take requests. Yet requesting a band instead of a specific song way increases the odds I'll nail it. Live I play the songs I write and the ones we love. 

• When I met the legend folk artist John McCutheon at eight years old he ignited the thunder on the mountain, fertilizing a seed that may have remained dormant for my forever. There was always music in the house and with my mother's love of The Beatles and Broadway and my dad composing late into the night plus his love of the Boston Pops cranked up to stun there was no shortage of inspiration and epic sonic excellence. I sorta started at the top of the music food chain not realizing beginning at age 3 I was setting my songwriting and production standards. It wasn't strange and quite encouraged to disappear for days or weeks in my room with my guitar. I call my life work as a writer and musician "While no one's watching." Staying with each song until I had a recording. Fueled by devotion I'd throw everything at the wall. Then crossing the thin invisible line from inspiration to  discipline. The art is in the editing and getting it right might be slicing off the nose and toes maybe a much loved arm that doesn't belong requires discipline devoting a timeless time for as long as it takes. The song knows what it wants.