Home Town: Fort Worth, Texas

Music Genres: Traditional/Contemporary Country, Western Swing

What makes you unique as an artist? I love just about all types of music and I draw inspiration from all of it. I consider myself a “Musical Expeditionary” and I love to delve into the roots of the music. I incorporate those influences into my original compositions. I stay true to those roots while adding a new twist to my songs. In doing this, I hope to attract a broad range of fans.

What instruments do you play? Guitar, harmonica, drums

Tell us about yourself: I have always loved music. I grew up listening to everything from Country to Rock & Roll to Broadway/Standards (Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, etc.) I believe this affinity for those standards is what drew me to Western Swing, as it is really jazz with strings/fiddle and lends itself perfectly to the “crooner” vocal style.

I love my family and am very proud of my wife (who is utterly amazing) and my kids. I am a businessman who loves meeting people and building relationships. I have seen God’s miracles in my life and the lives of others; therefore I am a strong believer. I try to remain open minded when it comes to my current beliefs, as we are never too old to change and evolve. One of my favorite quotes is a line from a Bob Dylan song: “He not busy being born is busy dying.”

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music? I love boating, reading and just spending time with friends and family

What inspired you to start playing and performing music? Back in 2017, my wife informed me she was going to buy me a musical instrument for me to learn, as she knew I was musically inclined. Subsequently, I got my first guitar, a $300 Fender acoustic (which is still one of my favorite guitars) and I started learning basic chords. I very quickly started writing songs and the rest is history..

What makes a song great? That is somewhat of an objective question! I appreciate well-crafted lyrics and creative melodies. I like songs that make me sit up and say: “Wow! I wasn’t expecting that word, or that chord!” One mark of a great song is a melody and/or lyric that sticks in your head long after you hear the song. A great song will have you wanting to revisit it over and over again.

Do you write music? Yes. I LOVE the process, especially when it’s collaborative.

When did you first perform and what was it like? The first time I performed with my guitar playing my original material was in 2017 at an open mic night in front of seasoned songwriters and performers. It was pretty intimidating, but I Ioved every second!

Who are your influences? Hank Willliams, Faron Young, Jerry Jeff Walker, Bob Dylan, Milton Brown, Louis Armstrong

What awards have you won for your music? Academy of Western Artists AWA 2020 Western Swing Song of the Year, 2023 CMA of Texas Song of the Year, CMA of Texas Vocalist

What advice would you give someone that is trying to break into music? Be humble, patient, but be aggressive. As in any business, it’s all about relationships. If you see someone that inspires you, introduce yourself to them. Most veteran artists are more than happy to give advice and help newcomers. Always conduct your business with integrity and NEVER burn bridges!

If you could meet anyone, living or otherwise, who would it be? Probably the man that invented modern time in music, Louis Armstrong.