I remember, as a child, my dad playing music in the various clubs and taverns. Sometimes he would take my mom and me along to hear the band.  While we were there, I would slip away from my mom and run as fast I could to the stage where my dad and his band were playing.  Just before I would get there, mom would catch me and take me back to where we were sitting, me kicking and screaming all the way.  I don't believe I was trying to get there just because my dad was up there playing.  It was because the music drew me there.  It was that music that called to me.  I wanted to be as close as possible to it as I could.  I just knew that someday I would learn how to get there.  I didn't know how, I just knew that I would.

After I turned ten, my dad bought me my first guitar and taught me a handful of chords to go with it, and then I was positive that I had a lot of work to do, to hone and polish my skills as a guitar player!  In the realm of Country Music, I learned to play everything that I heard, until I felt comfortable enough to start wanting to play in a band.  But, no one wanted just a rhythm guitarist. They needed someone who could sing, also.  I bought a tape of Merle Haggard's best hits.  I worked with that tape until I finally wore it out.  It taught me some very valuable lessons and layed out a whole brand new world for me!

About twenty years ago, I got to personally thank Mr. Haggard, the man that gave me the voice that I have today!  On another note, I want to thank the man who was so very patient with me, teaching me that there is a lot more to playing guitar, than forming chords and strumming the strings, my very best friend in the whole world, Pete Maddox!!!