Bio
I have been blessed, honestly, I have…to have rubbed shoulders and worked with several acoustic and Americana groups in my career over the years. Mostly notably sharing the stage with Alabama, Wade Hayes, The Osborne Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Dennis Agajanian, Chubby Wise, Doyle Lawson, Lee Greenwood, James Monroe, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Carl Story, and Ricky Skaggs.
I have been able to compose, record and release nearly a dozen acoustic/folk CDs to date. The neat part is, some of these songs have been heard on various programs and broadcast mediums over the years. How fun is that?
Speaking of cool (for me, anyway), was the opportunity to be recruited into the US Air Force to play fiddle and mandolin with the USAFA Academy Band, Wild Blue Country.
A few more highlights have included a two-decade-plus working relationship with a couple of mighty-fine fellows in the Rockies, they call themselves “The StringDudes”. Man, did we have a hoot and made some great music over those 20+ years. I still get calls from festivals asking if we can come and do the Duelin' Tuba song…(no kidding).
Another highlight for me was getting to be a founding member of Palmer Divide. This quartet was basically four mountian picker-guys with a burning desire to pick the best bluegrass we could muster. We had no corporate sponsors, just four guys working to make whatever was gonna happen, “happen”. We charted some bluegrass songs, mainly Red Dirt on My Shoes, Somebody Keeps Playin' My Fiddle, Oklahoma Daydreams and Hang on Heart. PD was able to tour a good part of this wonderful USA, meet a gaggle of special supporters of bluegrass and good folks. Being a composer, it was a special treat for me to be a member of a group that was open to an all-original-song repertoire. Sorta unheard of from a bluegrass group that wasn't already a household name; but by-golly, it worked. All thankfulness to the Good Lord and three ole boys from the Rockies.
My wife and I live near Branson, MO now and these Ozarks are full of stringed players, HQ players. I have been blessed through an answer to prayer and have been invited to join Potters Wheel; an all gospel bluegrass ministry-focused group. What a blessing this has been.
TALE OF THE TWANG:
*Professionally proficient on a variety of string instruments; mainly fiddle, mandolin.
*Fiddle/Mandolin Multiple Contest Winner
*SPBGMA Mandolin winner
*XIT-Dalhart, TX Fiddle Champion
*Professional stringed-instrument teacher/coach/mentor/motivational speaker
PARTIAL CLIENTELE & PERFORMANCE ROSTER:
- Outback Steakhouse
- Broadmoor Hotel
- Professional Bull Riders Assn
- Good Sam's Club
- Texas Opry and Live Music Performer
- Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame
- US Tobacco
- The Nashville Network
- Mick Glossup(Van Morrison producer)
- US Dept of Justice
- MCI Telecommunications Corp
- US Veterans Administration
- KCS 102FM Radio, Walton Media
- AT&T National/Int'l Communications
- Thousand Trails Recreational Srvs
- European Country Music Assn
- Sun Financial Services
- Lockheed Martin
- USAF Thunderbirds
- UpjohnPharmaceuticals
- General Growth Properties
- Country Music Television
- Purina Farms
- Oklahoma State Fair Committee
- US Space Symposium
- Busch Beverages Inc
- Buckskin Joe's Theme Park
- Salem Radio Networks
- City of Colorado Springs
- Warner Brothers Recording Corp
- Qwest Communications
- Fort Carson Army Post
- The White House, Washington DC
- Grand Ole Opry
- Pioneer Museum
- Pepsico Beverage Corp
- Senator Ray Powers
- Martin/Marietta
- US Air Force
- Sheraton Hotels
- Ghost Towns of America
- Clinique Comestics
- Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Assn
- United States Military Academy
- RockLedge Ranch Historic Site
- Oklahoma State Fair Board
- Int'l Bluegrass Music Association
- Colorado State Legislature
- KOA Campgrounds of America