BIOGRAPHY

I came to Nashville to chase my dream of becoming a songwriter and entertainer. I was late so I felt a stronger since of urgency than most of the younger folks as my biological clock was a little more warn out than most. I was hired by a local Real Estate Company to be their property management director. I had already prepared some by attending songcamp 301 and doing some homework. I have been very blessed with friends in this town doors were opened soon by good friends and mentors Tony Phipps and Jerry Gowen. My first co-writing experience was with Jennifer Riddle of Pyle Roser Publishing company and then came those incredible first full demo's from Larry Roser at Studio 19 and I felt like he had arrived. Writing at the studio and seeing Wynona, Annie Roboff, Porter Wagonner and some other stars I was pumped then came all the hard work! After a 60 second audition after waiting in bone chilling cold and hoping you might have a chance and your guitar might stay in tune I auditioned at the Blue Bird. Luckily on the first time through all the poop I made the Sunday night 3 song shows.

I'm not saying I enjoyed how I was treated and what I had to go through at the Bluebird but. You have to try to put yourself in their shows when encountering mean people. They get bombarded with people who want to play there. It was so cool though, an inspiration, and yes, it was worth it in the end.

NSAI was necessary and very expensive but worth it! The only bad experiences were from the staffers. Try to overlook them cause they really mean well and it was a blessing and inspiration of meeting true gentlemen and ladies of the songwriting community and meet serious co-writers. If they are like you and spend $500 for a couple days you can bet they are serious too! It is worth it to meet folks like Kelly Lovelace, Rivers Rutherford, Rick Beresford (great teacher), Patti Ryan, Steve Seskin, James Dean Hicks. I remember coming back from song camp 301 and "The Song Remembers When Came On." As Rivers says lights just came on! Great people and great songs will pump you up like a big dog every time you hear them. You will spend money and you need to go to at least 301 and the symposium. If you think you are writer go to 301 and see. You will listen to songs different. And there are other options. Vanderbilt's Blair school of music, Rick and Patti's one hour consultations were huge for me. Listening at the different writers nights in town at some of the giants will move you like you wouldn't believe. pssssh (if it don't, move back home). A great way to keep up with what is going on in the songwriting community is Doak Turners www.nashvillemuse.com. Go sign up and get on his mailing list.

Don't miss Tin Pan! SGA Songwriters Guild of America. If you ever can hear Jeffrey Steele, Rivers, Wynn Varble, Tony Mullins, Steve Dean, Steven Dale Jones, Tony Haselden, Jim McBride, Tony Lane, Jenn Schott, Phillip White, Dean Dillon, Harley Allen, Mark Alan Springer, go hear them and get inspired! It is my opinion if you listen to great songs and you do have ability you will learn soon what a good song should sound like.

Co-writers are a blessing. I have been very fortunate to find some great ones. Dan Murph, Jamie Teachenor, Dan Demay, Ward Davis, Jesse Terry, Kerry Kurt Phillips, AJ Masters, Mark Alan Springer, Joel Shumake, Gaylon Griffin, Stephanie Corbin, Jeff Middleton, Matt Caldwell, Jenny Brennan, Jennifer Riddle, Melinda Hutchings, Shawn Harnett, Dennis Duff, Brooke Ludwick, Jimmy Spillman, James Gee. Everybody in town is trying to write with writers that are better than them. For every butt hole there is a great person! Find the best and most comfortable way for you to approach people. Remember most of the first co-writing sessions are just getting to know people and if you are going to gel. Don't go into a session all serious and all business. Be business and especially ON TIME but relax and have fun and be yourself. A lot of great songs come from just getting to know your co-writers who will grow to be some of your closest friends in the business.

Making a living has kept precedence over every other dream for me. I can't make my family suffer for my dreams. I have been in some kind of business all my life. Because of being in business for myself I have always been involved in Health and Life Insurance and Real Estate. I help people who are looking to move to Nashville to find everything from places to play to buying real estate or invest in real estate for a residual income when they get a big chunk of money at one time. Until you get you foot in the door somewhere it is my opinion "you must be present to win". That is exactly how I got the opportunity I am so very lucky and blessed with today. I was working with a friend on my computer installing software for a new company I was starting to work with. He wanted to hear my new songs I was working on at the time. After he heard it he was so moved he called a friend of his who happened to be Mark Alan Springer, which would not have happened unless I was striving to make a living IN NASHVILLE.

That day I met another great gentleman in the business Mark Alan Springer who had just started a new publishing company MASville Publishing. At that very time in my life I can honestly tell you EVERYTHING I had went through was worth it! Playing my song for him and him being interested in the song and interested in what I am writing was a blessing of all blessings.

Currently I have a few songs in the MASville catalog, my primary catalog is represented by McCarthy Publishing. My focus now is writing the best song I can write, making a living and just living life. At this point who knows what the future holds but it is sure fun and the ride is exciting. I am wrote for Mark Alan, using my past business skills to help potential artists, and helping writers with their marketing and promotion. Website's and self promotion are a must. If you don't believe in yourself enough for that who will. Now I am working on radio promotion and promoting my Fatboy character and others.