Paco Strickland--Guitar and other goodies
Troy Pierce--Hand Percussions
Greg Eavey--Hand Percussions
Influences
Hendrix, Santana, Montoya, Stones, old dead black dudes and a few white ones too...dead flamencos too numerous to mention. Hawaiian slack key players rule! Algia Mae Hinton and Etta Baker put to shame most white-boy blues wanna be's...Most my influences and heros are therefor dead...we'll meet them at the GIG.... There is no way someone will hear my stuff and think of these great masters. I try not to copy them. But they inspire me to do the best i can with what I've got. The old school Flamencos such as Sabicas, Nino Ricardo, Ramon Montoya are my favs---but I can barely touch what they offered. Carlos Montoya held little respect. In my world he was king!! However today one needs to embrace Paco, Vicente, Tomatito and sound like them. But they are TOO GOOD. I have their CD's but I don't sit around and listen to them. I'll play their stuff on my show but I don't sit down and learn their styles....I don't wan to play their licks. I really don't give a flying !@$%%$% about them---they actually kinda bore me! They sound like a polished machine of perfect pitch, control and technique. I want some skinned knees, some imperfections...the way one really sounds when they sit across from you at the coffee table and trade licks...Some have perfect and flawless compas...some take great liberties...SO WHAT? Have fun, relax and enjoy the art. Unless someone is paying your rent, who the hell gives a flying fuck if you stumble from time. With all these on-line communities we are all saying, "HEY LISTEN TO ME--I'M BETTER THAN EVERYONE WHO HAS COME BEFORE ME!!! No...you're not...no one is paying any attention at all. People probably don't think you suck--but they probably don't really care much. People will only listen to about 15 seconds of your music then click over to another site. In most cases we are our biggest fans. Learn to love what you play--do it even if you don't get payed. If you have a regular gig...don't give it up.
Go to Flamenco Cafe or Paco Strickland for more music, rants, photos and more wierd shit.
Presently ( and for the last 17years ) I am one of North America's few commercially working Flamenco artists. I endeavor to perform Flamenco guitar playing as best I can but I often fall short. That shit's hard as Hell! But I've been quite lucky in that I've been well embraced in the Cape Fear area as 'THE Flamenco Guitarist' but much of what I perform is a potpourri of Spanish---Latin---Flamenco---Middle Eastern---Reggae...and even Blues. I am totally enthralled by Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and will soon embark on a Hawaiian tour to further pursue these interests....
My passion and love of Flamenco has prompted a dedication to creating an awareness and appreciation of Flamenco Art in the Cape Fear Region in the following ways::::
FOR 15 YEARS NOW...I've hosted "Flamenco Cafe" the nation's only regularly broadcasted radio program which is in limited syndication from the Atlantic Coast to the Hawaiian Islands....
I was voted "Best Solo Artist" in Wilmington and the Cape Fear area. (1993 - present... )
I have independently produced 8 locally "Best Selling" CDs (local media awards, 1994 - present ) These include:::
Global Warming 2005
'El Camino Del Viento'--- The Way Of The Wind 2003
'Duendes De La Noche' -- Spirits Of The Night 2001
''Flamenco Cafe 2000'
'El Gusto Es Mio' --- The Pleasure Is Mine 1997
El Precio Del Amor --- The Price Of Love 1995
'Blue Tango' (with Madafo Lloyd Wilson) 1994
'Flamenco Cafe' 1994...
I am music editor/contributor for "Reel Carolina Journal of Film & Video" and also contribute for local newspapers and publications including The Wilmington Star News, "Encore Magazine" and "Focus On The Coast...."
I score music for various independent film, video, commercials, and television projects...
I have taught a class in ''Flamenco Culture'' at UNCW...
I hold degrees both in Social Work and Education.
(Ohio State University 1976, 1992...)
I toured with TV's "Hee Haw" road band (1970's & 80's...)
I've performed almost 3000 weddings and am also an Ordained Minister specializing in weddings/commitment ceremonies...
I am a Phys Ed aficionado … a cycling Instructor at the YMCA (Wilmington, NC) and have completed over 100 Marathons and countless races at shorter distances including triathlons...I feel like it's been more than 1,000,000 races most days! HA!
I am a rabid surfer and lover of the sea.
Nice to meet you, Paco! Thanks for joining our circle of friends, and thanks for helping to keep Redd's legacy alive! Billy & Sharon www. reddstewart. com (Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys)
passing by to show some affection. and, wow, do I love your playing! oh, it always touches me so much.. this is why I practice so hard, I should love to play this way... a friend from far over the sea.
I'll be at the Port City Music and Arts Festival with photos of guitarists. :) And oh yeah, I finally met that guy named Dave Matthews. But I've still seen you play more than I have him. ;)
well Deluxe was as quite as a mouse hosting idle diners, with watering mouths. Thirsty for sweet sounds from the wooden box - sweet strings sing me a song!
