Mom and Dad bought a Kimball Organ when I was about seven years old, and I guess that started it all. At thirteen, a friend of the family taught me a few guitar chords, and I got my first 12 string the next year. With the music of John Denver, Batdorf and Rodney and America inspiration, I began writing simple songs and playing folk music at campfires, weddings and local festivals. The years after High School found me in California working for the park service and playing evenings in campgrounds and restaurants. Abilene, Texas was the next stop. With its wild and woolly mix of a low drinking age (that being 18), public dance halls and private clubs, I found my self singing Linda Ronstadt and Willie Nelson covers behind chicken wire.  I had the honor of playing one night a week for several months at Mel Tillis's "The Old Sawmill", The Town Crier Steakhouse, a pool bar, whose name I can't remember (might be a good thing) near the back gate of the base, and a fund raiser for the Veterans Hospital with Rex Allen, Rex Allen Jr and Johnny Gimble. I got out of Abilene with my guitar, my ‘70 Chevy Impala 350, some real good stories and 10 stitches around my eye from one of those nights there was not enough chicken wire in the state Texas to protect the band.