Porch Music
I started picking a guitar around eight years. I remember it being a Westbend, or something. One of those jr size wooden boxes with strings. Next was my first electric, an Orleans, its the one with the crome pick guard guitar below on the left. Sixth grade, I co- founded "Red Rumble Seat" Pat Coyne on drums, David Johnson, lead guitar. I am on the left, both upper pictures and as frontman in the bottom pic. Played for my largest audience at that show, 400. We played a school dance and a kids Soapbox derby day, outdoors on Hanover st. Palo Alto. circa - 1969 In the summer of 1970 my family moved from Palo Alto to Los Altos Hills, that was the end of that band.
The late eighties came the garage band below. We played a couple years, parties, garages. Never even had a name. Top left is Pat Whitiker, vocals, lead guitar, Mike Davis, drums and me as a ghost at the bottom. This band has changed members and still plays as The Road Dogs. Below is Sonia Shell - Instructor and friend. Sonia is a multi-instrumentalist and 1993 Banjo Finger pickin' Champ - Winfield KS. http://www.soniashellbanjo.com/
Susan Udell 1963 -1994https://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?qs=m425230
In the late eighties, I met Susan Udell. Susan was an extraordinary songwriter and friend. My wife and I enjoyed attending many of her shows. She changed my whole music outlook. I was introduced to folk and independent songwriters. I dropped rock like a bad habit. Worked on fingerstyle guitar for a couple years until I was confident enough to finally order a hand made guitar. In 1996 I went to Gryphon, ordered a Collings OM3 and have enjoyed it ever since. The mid ninties I started taking banjo lessons from one of the greats, Sonia Shell. http://www.soniashellbanjo.com/
She was the 1993 runner up at the Winfield Kansas championships. I bought an early eighties Alvarez 5 string banjo and still enjoy playing it today, even with the jokes. The late ninites, I got the itch to try the fiddle. I took some lessons from LeeAnne Welch. Both Lee Ann and Sonia play or have played for Sidesaddle. A Bay Area Bluegrass institution since the early eighties.
The last few years, I felt I achieved an adequate level (that's still being quesitoned) of ability to perform publicly. I've played open mics around the south bay, then some other venues and some paid gigs. In 2014, I spent the summer working in Minnesoda.
I played a couple festivals, more open mics, had a great time. Great state for acoustic music. With this new release, I plan to book some new venues and hopefully play more with friends. See you 'round the campfire!
Below, are my roots. My mother was a very talented singer, winning contests and fronting country western bands around the bay area in the late 40's- early 50's. So, like many others, I grew up hearing her and country music. Traditional country, which I greatly stress is not the country music of today. There's a great song recorded years ago that goes to this point, called "Murder on music Row" The death of Country music.
