1. How old were you when you knew your life was going to be art?   I never really considered anything else, other than  if I coulda hung around Jacques Cousteau....or played 2nd base for the Red Sox.

 

2. When did you start for real?  Start what? i was drawing when i was 3.  I didnt start the serious study of music til i was 19; though i took piano as a kid and learned chords. 

 

3. Were you single minded in this pursuit or did you train/educate for a "real" job? I've never been single minded....always too easily distracted.

 

4. School - Did it help, hinder, or immaterial? Music school...a year at Berklee...was great...met some great friends and players from all over the world...that let me know how bad I sucked, and how far I had to go. 4 years with El Maestro, Charlie Banacos....incredible, like learning from/with Monk or someone that serious. A humbling experience. And great every which way.

 

5. Who supported your decisions? my kids, partners, my mother, other musicians

 

6. Do you have family?  And where are they? Boston, and Austin

 

7. What gigs stand out to you, looking back? Elma Lewis School, Roxbury MA  w/ Wes Riley, Tesfa Kidane, Ted Lagodmos...my 1st gig. Hano St Block Party. Allston MA  Grandstand Play St Croix USVI  Fortuna Bay Band The Greenhouse  St Thomas USVI Fortuna Bay Band - Emmajoe's  Austin TX 1st gig w/Townes Van Zandt, & Mickey White Great American Music Hall SF, 2x w/ Townes Van Zandt New Country TV show, Nashville w Townes Van Zandt Aquafest with Townes Van Zandt, right before Stevie Vaughan Jack Clements house w TVZ Gerde s Folk City NYC w TVZ Tipitina's. NOLA w The Cobras Fitzgeralds, Houston  The Cobras, opening for Stevie Vaughan Aquafest with Quizumba Carnaval Brasileiro w Quizumba Liberty Lunch w Pressure Austin Reggae Festival w Mau Mau Chaplains ACL LIve with Michael Williams Band, opening for Buddy Guy Grand Emporium KC  Jr Medlow & The Bad Boys The Bitter End NYC  Laurie Freelove The Gallery w Crybear/David Garza 20 years of BUSTAMOOVALATORS w. Mike Roeder, Michael Hale and guests

 

8. Who did you like performing with? Inside Straight, Live Jive,  Sabor Latino, Fortuna Bay Band, Paul Rishell, Pat Mears, The Cobras, Pressure, Ty Gavin, Mau Mau Chaplains, Townes Van Zandt, JD Steagall, The Waddell Brothers, Dave Ducharme Jones, Zoumountchi, Jr Medlow and The Bad Boys, Butch Hancock, Chris Duarte, Laurie Freelove, Djalma Garnier, Graham Reynolds, Sergio Gonik, Susanna Sharpe, Mosaic Trio (with Tonico Vanalli and Danyeris Echevarria), David Garza, Noisetet. 

 

9. The only things i can stand hearing are Buckskin Stallion from Townes's "At My Window", a couple of cuts on The BUSTAMOOVALATORS cd...a bit of a recording w David Garza, and a new age meditation hoo hah I did  in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

 

10. Has your outlook on fame changed since you've achieved it? Im not famous, and don't have an outlook. I ve always thought that success at this is largely dependent on what others think of your shit, and I've been content to have my success measured in respect from my peers, who are the only "others" that matter to me.   Anything else is fleeting....I'm only "a star" when a thousand people say so...Im a respectable player when my peers keep calling me for gigs.

 

11. Has notoriety changed you? I dont have notoriety, so all the changes have occurred in the course of living, notoriety not being a part of that.

 

12. Do you feel satisfied with yourself? As a person?  Hell yah...I'm alright....I'm an honest man. I don't bullshit.  I'm a thoughtful understanding father that raised 2 great women since they's babies....I've survived some medical traumas i never expected....so yah...I'm badder than i ever expected.  As an artist...as time goes on, I suck less... But I'm often satisfied in the act, rarely with the result. 

 

13. How do you want to be remembered? A humble, honest man that had a beautiful sound, and played from the heart.

 

14. What are you currently working on? Gaining weight.

 

15. Is it as easy as it looks? Once you realize its impossible, it's a snap. 

 

16. Is it fun? Mostly 

 

18. What would you say to wannabee performers? The lessons you learn in your life, you can apply to your art...the lessons you learn in your art, you can apply to your life.  That way, both things keep growing...you cant help but get better at both. Be friends with people you look up to. Your ego aint shit. No one gives a f***  Suck it up and go play even tho the sound is horrible.

 

19. Do you have pets, what kind? A dog, Sadie, and a bird, Quistah 

 

20. What's more important - Talent or hard work? One doesnt compensate for the other.  Hard work will get you plenty of skill.....talent will provide inspiration and a unique approach to the task at hand. And neither accounts for innovative genius, which can take both to the nth degree.AND...nothing accounts for luck.....which can be the most important of all of it.