I got my first guitar when I was 10 years old. It was a Harmony Sovereign. My father had Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul & Mary albums. I loved folk music. I was learning the chords to some of their songs and learning to sing. About a year and a half later an event changed my life. The Beatles invaded America! I couldn’t put my guitar down. I started to sing harmonies to their songs.
I started a band in eight grade with 3 of my friends. I played rhythm and sang along with a bass, drums and a lead player. We played house parties and sang Gloria each set.
I started to write songs at the age of 18. This became my musical focus. After college, I moved to Chicago to be a songwriter/performer. I hated the profession. Staying up late, breathing cigarette smoke in bars and struggling to make money was not my cup of tea. The great part was being exposed to great songwriters and an incredible ethnic diversity I was unaware of growing up in Texas. John Prine, Steve Goodman, Brian Bowers and other Chicago stars had a huge influence on my music. I toured with Pat Ireland around the Midwest playing lead fills. This was the best part of my professional music career.
In the late 1975 I moved back to Texas and began a career in banking. Music was still my salvation and distraction from a day job. Texas was home to Jimmy Rodgers, the father of country music. He worked for the railroad and was called the “Singing Brakeman. I took the cue and my nickname was the “Singing Banker”.
My first CD was released in 1990 titled Texas Ways. Since then, I’ve released a total of 7 CDs. I’m now retired and living on our ranch in the Texas Hill Country with my wife, Meaghan Solay. We are both writing songs and recording music.
My music is produced in several styles. Country, Swing, Tejano, Folk and other styles create a varied sound and appeal. It is important to me that I don’t do the same style on every song.
I hope you enjoy the lyrics and music.