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By the time I graduated from Mount Gilead High School, in Ohio, I was totally enthralled with the idea of being a musician and performer. My Second Cousin, Joe Tanner had already written and recorded several songs, had been part of a quartet that had national success, appeared on American Bandstand and had joined the roster of talent at Monument Records in Nashville. As a producer and musician he worked closely with Roy Orbison and shared some of his successes. In the spring of 1962 I traveled to Monterey Mexico with my parents, where I bought my first guitar. I also had the opportunity (my very first) to sing with a real Rock and Roll Band,a local group who played at a country club on the outskirts of Monterey. Wow! That was a rush!
Eventually I taught myself to play guitar, began singing every place I could and toyed with song writing. While attending Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, I met another student who was a very talented musician and singer, as well as portrait Artist. We became instant friends and spent most of our lunch-hour each school day entertaining the other students. Oddly this was my first "regular gig" as a singer. Our renditions of the Everly Brothers songs were always a hit.
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Over the next few years I performed in and around central Ohio and Northern Kentucky. As lead singer and guitar player with The Cavemen, The Daylight Blues Band, The Stingrays, and The Uptown Folks. I achieved some personal goals, but no commercial success. Then, at 18, while attending Morehead University, I was signed by an agent and thought for a moment I was "on my way." But, he ran out of money and I ran out of time. The British Invasion was here!
For awhile there was hope "The Invasion" would blend in as all the other genres had. But eventually it was clear. The music had turned the corner, sped away and left several victims in its wake. I made a decision to try my hand at the growing pop/country sound and formed a group called The Uptown Folks with Pat & Linda Nichols. In less than a year the combination of a job, wife, children and my mounting responsibilities caused me to choose a different path again and stop performing. As I transitioned my interest and efforts over the years, I found songwriting to be challenging, fun and good for my mental health. In the mid 80's I pitched a song, "Two Heart Breakin Even," to a "Mega-Star" in country music and made the final 25 being considered for his third album, but albums only hold 12 or 13 songs. I also had some acknowledgement by a few other "names" in Nashville and some very exciting moments. ... but in Nashville that won't buy you a cheap cigar! It's generally considered bad taste for songwriters to drop the names of those artist that 'almost' recorded their songs. The facts are they didn't and so I won't. So much for fame and fortune!
Life took it's twists and turns. I move away from Nashville for several years and gradually found my way back. With some old ideas and new friend, some new ideas and old friends, I have begun to write another chapter of my life.
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