I was thinking back, and I think Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle" had a profound influence on me. It was the first album I ever owned, a big vinyl sucker that I wore the grooves out of. I remember singing songs from it in the backseat of my parents' hulking 1972 Chevy Impala when I was 5 or 6. When I was 8 I remember Pink Floyd's "The Wall" coming out, and I wore that out too. I got Styx's "Paradise Theatre" when I was 10 and listened to it ad nauseam. Mixed in there somewhere was John Couger, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and a bunch of classical music, Bach, Ravel, Mozart, Beethoven. Then in high school I discovered heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer and their lesser derivitives. I grew long hair and smoked my first joint and drank a lot of German beer (living in Germany then).
In my junior year in Springfield VA (suburb of Wash. D.C.) I discovered classical guitar (beyond what snippets Kirk Hammett and the like would put in their songs), and began a life journey through the guitar masters of the ages, Sor, Tarrega, Aguado, Coste, Brouwer. I was fortunate enough to take lessons from Gustavo Them, a grad student under top ranked world guitar maestro Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. I continued my studies under Mark Godwin at Lipscomb University.
Today I'm enjoying the Indie Revolution! Currently under heavy rotation in my iPod: The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, Justin King, Clap Your Hands, Talking Heads (back to the source), Modest Mouse, Michael Hedges, Peter Gabriel, Loreena McKinnett, Miles Davis, Ani DiFranco, Steve Reich, Arvo Part, The Golden Sounds, Ben Lee, Zero 7, Iron & Wine, Adam Hill, Venus Hum, The Blue Man Group, Coldplay, Edgar Myer/Bela Fleck, Frou Frou, Goldfrapp, Gus Black, Massive Attack, Damien Rice, King Crimson, The Twilight Singers, Nickel Creek, Lemoncholy, Low, The Assad Brothers, Violence and Valentines, Anthony Skinner, Keane, Simon and Garfunkel, and Yes
ENOUGH OF CYNICISM, SKEPTICISM & HUMBUG, AND WE SHALL WANT TO LIVE MORE MUSICALLY." --Vincint Van GoghI live in the Great Land of Nashville, where I came to live to escape from my past as a lead guitarist in a D.C. area thrash metal band called Militia. God actually told me to come to Nashville to go to school at Lipscomb University, where my parents went to school. Nashville's been great to me, and over the last 12 years I've been able to bury most of the demons that I danced with in my foolish days of youth. Today I'm happily married to julianalovespy and have an absolutely beautiful six month old daughter, Bella.
I'm currently working on an album of acoustic rock singer/songwriter type songs. I haven't had a chance to make a recording of my newer stuff, so I've got a few instrumentals up here from a 2001 release. I've been playing guitar for years and years. The songs I've posted are all in DADGAD (the tuning on the guitar if you didn't know). Over the last few years I've written a bunch of songs for and about Jesus, and you can go to my website and click on 'music' to hear/download a bunch of those. I just finished an EP called 'The Name' which has some Middle Eastern/Ancient Israeli inspired worship songs, among others.
I've studied classical guitar for a long time, and if you're getting married in the Nashville area, I love to play at your ceremony. Go to Nashville Wedding Guitarist to hear some demos and find out more.
Right now I'm trying to make ends meet by teaching guitar, playing anywhere and working odd jobs. Hope to meet you somewhere soon!
Julie contends that you are the most interesting man in the world ... so why is #18 in your top friends challenging you on that? Will there be a duel? :)
It was good to catch up with you/y'all at Linda's shindig. Good times which brought back old times (speaking of, come read my dog blog as your wife is a main character). ;)
I am a Christian When I say… "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'." I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I 'm found and forgiven." When I say… "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say… "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak And need His strength to carry on. When I say… "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed And need God to clean my mess. When I say… "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible But, God believes I am worth it. When I say… "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say… "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow! By Maya Angelou
Hey Rob, Jerry Oliver here. I hope things are going well for you. I've enjoyed listening to your instrumental tunes tonight. It's been a stressful weekend and your music has settled nice in my soul.
I enjoyed your performance last Saturday at the EMC reunion concert. Gerald was on cloud 9 as you can imagine. Your baby girl is so beautiful! Take care.
HA HA HA now this is funny ... well sort of... HAPPY VALENTINES DAY... To the first boy who ever gave me flowers... Carnations to be exact...
some things we never forget... Have a wonderful day... Michele
