I am a second generation musician, a Journeyman Bricklayer, and a Construction engineer. But music is my first love. My dad was a saxophone player with the big bands in the late 30's prior to his military service as a musician with the Special Forces Units stationed in the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska. On his return from the Second World War he married his sweetheart and here I am today along with my two brothers and one sister. My father's influence on me and my music can be heard in the arrangements of the songs that I perform.
The piano lessons that were forced upon me gave me a stable beginning teaching me basic music skills and theory. Thou I don't play the instrument now I draw from the what I learned from the instrument. I was taught the basics that lead me to the wind instruments I fancied. I studied French horn and was able to attain a spot in a wind ensemble that toured England in 1969. The horn was nice but I had a longing to sing. The guitar proved to be light enough to carry ( as apposed to a piano) and allowed me to sing at the same time . So at age 18 I started to play the guitar. Luckily the country was in the mist of another recession and I had a lot of time to practice. Within a year from the date I started practicing the guitar I was performing at small restaurants and pizza parlors all over the Saginaw Bay area in Michigan. Bluegrass was on its upward swing at that time and I fashioned my guitar work after the great people of the guitar such as Jerry Garcia , Norman Blake ( who I would love to meet someday) and Leo Kottke. But the message I have always needed to put across has come from the notable country /folk performers such as John Prine, Bob Dylan, Pete Seager, and John Denver just to name a few. I have drawn allot of my present knowledge from my studies of these individuals and the vastness of their ability, Its no wonder that they lead the pack of Great Folk musicians of that era.
I love to sing and play music and in the restaurant environment performing can sometimes be quit entertaining for the performer too. You unconsciously end up watching people eat, or wearing what they eat. Its also nice to see the body language of the individual that is enjoying a performance, sometimes you will see a few feet tapping along with the music, and sometimes you will see all kinds of people really getting into the swing of an exciting song as they are being amused and helping themselves into letting the entertainment god influence their inner child. You can see the effects on the song on the listener.. this is a triumph in the eyes of a musician.
The Farmers markets are a fun place to perform also. The market shoppers that happen by sometime make the days performance a special occasion with their expressions and approval. There was an elderly lady visiting the market in Vacaville some time ago that was enthralled with my performance, You could see her across the street waving from her chair and expressing how much she liked the music.. After a while the Lady's folks came over to tell me thank you… due to her dementia she hadn't smile in about 3 months, they were happy and I felt a special reward had been bestowed upon me. I like that feeling and I think that is why I do what I do.
On the other side of the age bracket, I was playing at the Marin County Civic Center's Farmers Market one morning. The day was cruising along just fine when in the mist of a set of smooth moving country songs I noticed a young girl of no more than 4 or 5 years old out in front of me with one hand held high as if she was working a phantom guitar's fret board and her other hand just strumming along with the music. She made it thru the song and started into the next song when she got noticed, the people that were in the general area were quit amazed with the little girls interest and started paying attention to her. For the saddest reason she noticed the clamor and withdrew back into her shell, Luckily the clamor died and her wise mother came to her and reassured her she was OK. She completed two more songs with me that set, and I look forward to her eventual music release someday within the next 20 years.
Music and the entertainment business is probably the most fulfilling occupation you could ever have. This is the type of job that demands your full self, every performance is like painting a picture that disappears as soon as its done, That's why the artist in me pursued the recording of a compact disc, This is now a part of history and my thoughts and feelings can be conveyed to anyone.
I have a series of farmers markets to do for the 2003 season, but at this time I am focused on setting up the song list and engagements for the upcoming tour across the nation, this will be a two reason for this tour : The first is to promote the album, the second is to stop and see old friends and family that have scattered across the country over the last 20 years. The important thing is that I have the ability, and I have the time. They say “ do what you truly love and the money will come†. I'm doing the first part, So only time will tell. Thank you for your interest.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.driftwooddale.com
Track List:
1. Spanish Pipe Dream
2. Tennessee Stud
3. Early in the Morning Late At Night
4. Reason to Beleive
5. Don't Think Twice
6. Whats Time to a Hog
7. City of New Orleans
8. Angel Form Montgomery
9. Chattanooga Choo Choo
10. Don't Touch My Hat
11. It's a Big Old Goofy World
12. Six Pack to Go
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
The piano lessons that were forced upon me gave me a stable beginning teaching me basic music skills and theory. Thou I don't play the instrument now I draw from the what I learned from the instrument. I was taught the basics that lead me to the wind instruments I fancied. I studied French horn and was able to attain a spot in a wind ensemble that toured England in 1969. The horn was nice but I had a longing to sing. The guitar proved to be light enough to carry ( as apposed to a piano) and allowed me to sing at the same time . So at age 18 I started to play the guitar. Luckily the country was in the mist of another recession and I had a lot of time to practice. Within a year from the date I started practicing the guitar I was performing at small restaurants and pizza parlors all over the Saginaw Bay area in Michigan. Bluegrass was on its upward swing at that time and I fashioned my guitar work after the great people of the guitar such as Jerry Garcia , Norman Blake ( who I would love to meet someday) and Leo Kottke. But the message I have always needed to put across has come from the notable country /folk performers such as John Prine, Bob Dylan, Pete Seager, and John Denver just to name a few. I have drawn allot of my present knowledge from my studies of these individuals and the vastness of their ability, Its no wonder that they lead the pack of Great Folk musicians of that era.
I love to sing and play music and in the restaurant environment performing can sometimes be quit entertaining for the performer too. You unconsciously end up watching people eat, or wearing what they eat. Its also nice to see the body language of the individual that is enjoying a performance, sometimes you will see a few feet tapping along with the music, and sometimes you will see all kinds of people really getting into the swing of an exciting song as they are being amused and helping themselves into letting the entertainment god influence their inner child. You can see the effects on the song on the listener.. this is a triumph in the eyes of a musician.
The Farmers markets are a fun place to perform also. The market shoppers that happen by sometime make the days performance a special occasion with their expressions and approval. There was an elderly lady visiting the market in Vacaville some time ago that was enthralled with my performance, You could see her across the street waving from her chair and expressing how much she liked the music.. After a while the Lady's folks came over to tell me thank you… due to her dementia she hadn't smile in about 3 months, they were happy and I felt a special reward had been bestowed upon me. I like that feeling and I think that is why I do what I do.
On the other side of the age bracket, I was playing at the Marin County Civic Center's Farmers Market one morning. The day was cruising along just fine when in the mist of a set of smooth moving country songs I noticed a young girl of no more than 4 or 5 years old out in front of me with one hand held high as if she was working a phantom guitar's fret board and her other hand just strumming along with the music. She made it thru the song and started into the next song when she got noticed, the people that were in the general area were quit amazed with the little girls interest and started paying attention to her. For the saddest reason she noticed the clamor and withdrew back into her shell, Luckily the clamor died and her wise mother came to her and reassured her she was OK. She completed two more songs with me that set, and I look forward to her eventual music release someday within the next 20 years.
Music and the entertainment business is probably the most fulfilling occupation you could ever have. This is the type of job that demands your full self, every performance is like painting a picture that disappears as soon as its done, That's why the artist in me pursued the recording of a compact disc, This is now a part of history and my thoughts and feelings can be conveyed to anyone.
I have a series of farmers markets to do for the 2003 season, but at this time I am focused on setting up the song list and engagements for the upcoming tour across the nation, this will be a two reason for this tour : The first is to promote the album, the second is to stop and see old friends and family that have scattered across the country over the last 20 years. The important thing is that I have the ability, and I have the time. They say “ do what you truly love and the money will come†. I'm doing the first part, So only time will tell. Thank you for your interest.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.driftwooddale.com
Track List:
1. Spanish Pipe Dream
2. Tennessee Stud
3. Early in the Morning Late At Night
4. Reason to Beleive
5. Don't Think Twice
6. Whats Time to a Hog
7. City of New Orleans
8. Angel Form Montgomery
9. Chattanooga Choo Choo
10. Don't Touch My Hat
11. It's a Big Old Goofy World
12. Six Pack to Go
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- FOLK: Gentle
- COUNTRY: Country Folk
- MOOD: UPBEAT