Ok here goes nothing... I'll try not to give one word answers.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Pleasant Valley Maryland. Population: ...150? General odor: Cow manure. Conveniences: A barber shop and a general store. Essentially this means that I grew up with bad teeth from penny candy, a boy's hair cut, smelling something like a cow. I was quite the charmer.
When did you start singing and playing guitar?
I realize that this should be a simple question but I wouldn't say I have really started playing guitar yet. I "play around" on the guitar well enough to accompany myself and I've been doing so for about 5 years. As far as singing... I have been making noise since I was born and these sounds continue to morph into something that sounds more and more like music.
What was the first song you learned on guitar?
My mother taught me to play a G chord and I played the crap out of "What would you do with a drunken' sailor". Then I wrote about 3 or 4 very uninteresting songs using only that chord. Eventually I moved on to other chords (to the relief of my family who was forced to endure these compositions).
Who are some of your musical influences?
This is a loaded question. I think that everything you listen to, good or bad, influences you in one way or another. I am influenced not to sound like some things... I don't want to be mean so I will avoid the many available examples. And then I am inspired to sound like other people. Mostly I am inspired by the quality of people's music. I will never sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I'm inspired by his music. I am inspired by Ella, Louie, James Taylor, Fiona Apple, Allison Krauss, Robert Plant, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Sarah Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Eva Cassidy, (I am going to have to have to wrap this up)... James Morrison, Joni Mitchell, the jazz in coffee houses in DC, my mother, and so many more. Well, that's a start a least.
List the five CD's you are listening to right now.
I listen mostly to Pandora and MySpace and other forms of music available on the internet. I have no money for... well anything, but that includes CDs. Via less expensive means I have probably been listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Ray LaMontagne, B.B. King ...ugh only two left... I think I was listening to Brett Dennen and Hank Williams Sr. There are tons of others I listen to all the time, but I think these are the accurate answers if you are looking for the last 5.
What does music mean to you? Why do you play?
I wish I had some deeply artistic response to this question. Unfortunately, honesty compels me to explain that music is mostly fun for me. It's my favorite thing to do with my time. I wouldn't say that music is my life, but I would say it's one of the best parts of my life and one of God's greatest gifts to us... well it's one of my favorites anyway.
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