I wanted a bike for my 9th or 10th birthday, but Mama thought I was fit for a 1960’s Kay guitar. I think she paid 50 dollars for it and, boy, was it a beast to play! I hated it. The strings were at least a half inch from the fret board. It may as well been a ball field length for young tender fingers like mine attempting to play “House of the Rising Sun” or the “Boogie Woogie”. With the resentment of not getting the bike on top of sore finger tips, I think I remember breaking all but three of the strings on it and chuckin’ it under my bed until I was around 12. When I realized how hip it was to even have a guitar to start with, it wasn’t long ‘til I was picking with school friends and learning every Eagles, Skynyrd, Zeppelin, AC/DC and Bob Seger record I could get my hands on. It was the challenge that hooked me.
I dropped out of night school to go jam with what would become my first “real” band, “Stone Blue”. I remember one of our first paying gigs was at a place called Cadillac’s in Hickory, NC opening for Quiet Riot. I think we made 50 bucks and a case of Bud in the can, but we were damn sure there and thought we had arrived! We ended up on the good side of the owners, Rocky and Carmine, which landed us opening slots at their clubs for the likes of The Fabulous T-birds, Night Ranger, Mother’s Finest, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Foghat and others. On the night of my 21st birthday, September 12th 1993, “Stone Blue” came to an end.
By this point I had started singing more, blowing harp and wanted to start my own group as the lead singer and writer. I quit my “day gig” at the local mill and formed Zeke’s Wheel, a full time, working band with great players and singers who could play anything from the Allman Brothers to Doobies to Beatles. We mainly stayed in the Carolinas playing 100 or so nights a year and were a great band who loved to play music, drink and party their asses off. After a short 2 or 3 year stint Zeke’s Wheel would roll no more.
From 1996-2000 I was chosen by the Department of Defense to entertain and boost morale for troops stationed abroad in South East Asia, the Mediterranean coast, Greenland and Cuba. I had never even been on a plane but there I went sometimes for two months at a time and eventually landed the role of tour manager. It was an experience that was both exciting and educational. God bless the Armed Forces!
My debut solo record came the following year in 2001. “Heartless Road” was put out with the help of the internet, numerous friends, family and fans. I think I sold (and gave away) about 2000 copies. Not bad for peddling ‘em out of my truck at gigs! My follow-up effort “Small Town Gone”, produced by renowned percussionist Jim Brock (Joe Walsh, Kathy Matea, Delbert McClinton, John Mellencamp, etc) was released in 2004. With STG I was fortunate enough to branch out into the European market, specifically the United Kingdom, Denmark and Holland. I’ve been touring in Europe sometimes twice a year since its release.
Now comes “Bag of Emotions”. With the help of Motown legends Bob Babbitt on bass (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, and Robert Palmer), drummer Ed Greene (Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Steely Dan) and renowned Nashville keyboardist Steve King (Keith Urban) I was inspired to dig deep into my Rock, R&B and Blues roots. There’s not a single fiddle or steel guitar within a mile of this recording. It’s an electric guitar and Hammond organ driven record that I truly feel has captured my essence as a guitarist, singer and live performer. Now you be the judge…
Film Credits
Great Wall of Sound (Sundance Film Festival 2006)
Songs: “The One That Got Away” and “Go Back to Sleep”
Nominations
Charlotte Music Awards 2007
“Best Overall Performer” and “Best Songwriter”
Recordings
“Heartless Road” (2001 Fatfried Music)
“Small Town Gone” (2004 Gaff Music)
“So Low” (2005 Fatfried Music)
“Bag of Emotions” (2008 Bandore)
Past Tours
United States/Guam
United Kingdom/Ireland
Denmark
Greenland
Netherlands/Holland
Turkey
Greece/Crete
Italy/Sicily
Japan/Okinawa
Korea
Cuba
Spain
