1.  How old were you when you knew your life was going to be art?    

I grew up on a ranch in Southeast Texas and artistic endeavors were definitely frowned upon. I was a reader and dreamer and my father was a cowboy and a roughneck and had no idea what to do with me. I had an aunt who kept me for a couple of weeks each summer and introduced me to cultural and artistic events. I always wrote, but making a living, having fun, and raising three sons kept me pretty occupied. A girlfriend told me when I was about forty that I got a lot of slack because I was a "sensitive artist”. I think it finally sank in then.

 

2. When did you start for real?     

I had been doing wood and limestone sculptures for a few years and bought my first guitar when I was 48. I had been a music fanatic my whole life and was a big follower of the Austin music scene. I could feel music, but had no idea of the mechanics of music.  Some friends showed me some chords and explained some structure and I started writing songs.

 

3. Were you single minded in this pursuit or did you train/educate for a "real" job?  

I had a real job and spent every available moment when I was not working trying to learn and hone this new medium.

 

4. School - Did it help, hinder, or immaterial?

My formal schooling was valuable in that it taught me what to do with words. The music lessons I have taken were invaluable.

 

5. Who supported your decisions?

My friends who were musicians really supported my efforts. When they heard what I had been writing and offered to play out with me, it really made me believe I was on the right track. My partner has also been extremely supportive of my endeavors.

 

6. Do you have family?  And, where are they? I live with my partner and I have two sons in Austin and one in Montana. Most of my family, my brother and cousins and their families, are in Brazoria County.

 

7. What gigs stand out to you, looking back? Opening for Arlo Guthrie at Arlofest out at Alice’s Restaurant, being a finalist in the Ozark Songwriter’s Festival, and being a finalist in the Poodie’s Summer Talent Contest.

 

8. Who did you like performing with?

Mark Parrish, Griff Smith, and Andy Gilder were the core of my first band, the Group W Bench, and I loved playing with them. Patrick Smith and I have been playing together for several years, and he has inspired me to really get my rhythm playing down. Others include Albert Besteiro, Rob Hyman, Phil Anstrom, Kim Deschamps, Steve Snyder, and Casper Rawls.

 

9. What do you see as your best work?

My next song.

 

10. Has your outlook on fame changed since you've achieved it?

I’ll let you know when I do.

 

11. Has notoriety changed you?

No, I have always been somewhat notorious.

 

12. Do you feel satisfied with yourself? I am satisfied that I raised my children to be who they wanted to be and are people I like.  I am satisfied that I have finally found my life’s calling. 

 

13. How do you want to be remembered? As a loving, caring person who passed it along.

 

14. What are you currently working on? Improving my guitar playing.

 

15. Is it as easy as it looks? I don’t know if I make it look easy. I hope I make it look fun.

 

16. Is it fun? Hell, yeah!

 

18. What would you say to wannabee performers? Just get out there and push yourself outside your comfort zone.

 

19. Do you have pets, what kind? Yes, I have three feral rescue cats who live in and around my house. When my partner moved in with me, I made an 18’ by 30’ cage to hold her feral rescue cats. We currently have more than three.

 

20. What's more important - Talent or hard work? Talent is a wonderful thing to have, but without hard work it will never be enough.

 

21 Xtra. What is your take on MP3 downloads?