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I am a self taught guitarist from around age 8. ( Ok...I sneaked around to play my older brother's guitar even though they beat my ass each time) Didn't I see that in a movie about the Jackson 5? Apparently beating kids for getting into a guitar works! I finally got my own guitar, a 12 string Cortez when I was 14. It was my only guitar for the next 8 years. I played it in 38 states. I am a reflection of every player I have ever jammed with, every vocalist I have sung with and every songwriter that has shared their thoughts with me.

I don't use music or lyrics when I play, but rather work songs up by ear from the recording or memory.
I am often asked "How can I be a better musician?" I would like to share with you 3 tips I consider important.

First: If you DO rely on music in front of you, try HARD to ditch it. You may very well surprise yourself. This will exercise the brain cells you have left and allow you to memorize even MORE..and MORE!

The reason for ditching it!!??? There are many but It will free you up to catch the "feel" because you are no longer concentrating on keeping your place on the page. It will also free you up to experience the poetry as the lyricist meant. When you allow the poetry of the lyric to sink in, this comes back at your audience.It also allows you a great deal more enjoyment, which surely you deserve.

Second: If you do study from internet lyrics, find the recording and proof read first. It is so important to have every syllable available to you as written. This way the words roll off the tongue. Sadly, many internet lyrics render a song imPOSSible to sing!

Third: If you are doing a cover, try to do it in the exact key as the recording because it will sound more familiar to the listener. Having said that, more important than EVER doing it in the original key is to do it in a key that is most suited to the singer. So, if the original key does not offer the singer in the very best light, don't hesitate to use a capo or transpose.

One other thing I am often asked is "What kind of music do you play?" My answer is, "There are two kinds of music. Good and Bad. I'll let you decide which one I play".

Here is a link for the most recent CD, Shades of Blue