THE BEGINNING - WHERE HE GREW UP AND HOW IT IMPACTED HIS CREATIVITY I grew up in Lakeland Florida. I was one of 8 children, went to a private school in town and the majority of my life was dedicated to the dream of playing basketball for the Florida Gators. That is until I started getting into music when I was 14. There aren't really any musicians or singers in my family. I remember picking out melodies to songs I knew on this old upright piano that was mostly used as another shelf/table in our living room. My mother would ask who taught me what I was playing on piano and my older brother would tell me the songs I was playing on guitar couldn't be ones I wrote but ones I heard before. I got better and started playing at our church and school and had probably started 56 bands by the time I was in college. Anything from a funny hip hop band that played shows in my best friend’s moms living room (she made snacks) to hardcore bands to folk bands to my solo stuff.
FORMAL / NOT FORMAL MUSIC EDUCATION I took guitar lessons once in high school... I wanted to learn some theory but I quit after 2 lessons because hearing my neighbor come home from work and play Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton on his porch was teaching me way more. The window behind my bed was often opened while doing homework in the afternoon so I could hear him better. I remember my friends all being into punk and rock music but my next door neighbor’s dad's music taste was beginning to steer me on a different path.
128 | Decorated Youth Magazine