People often ask me, why I learned to play the banjo, Especially since I learned banjo before I could strum a chord on guitar. I always reply with, “Because my dad had one.” Which is the truth. Dad didn’t really play much, but he had a banjo, and eventually I picked it up and wanted to learn how to play it. So, at 16 my dad signed me up for Banjo lessons. To this day I wish I took it more serious at a young age and practiced more, but I had to grow into it. I was in Orchestra in middle school and part of high school, I played the Viola, or at least, I pretended to. Much like every other class, homework, was not my thing. Therefore, I didn’t practice out side of class time. And of course the results reflected that. But, the banjo, that was something I really wanted to play. Practice was not boring or work to me, its still not. It’s not at all easy and it does take time, but it was time I didn’t mind spending.
I absolutely LOVE Country Music, and not just today’s hits and radio stuff, I love the solid Country, old stuff, the stuff people make fun of. Crying steel guitars, twang, and of course, the plunking of a banjo. I have been a Service and Training Manager for Old Navy for the last 3 ½ years, it’s not a bad job at all, however it is not how I want to spend my life, as a career retail manager. Again, nothing wrong with that career, I have friends that do it and have nothing but respect for them, it’s just not what I want. So at 24, with an Associates Degree in Fire Science, and almost 7 years of retail under my belt, I quit my manager gig and drove 2053 miles East, from Long Beach California and ended up just outside of Nashville Tennessee, in a town called Murfreesboro. My plan is to pursue my dreams of actually making a living as a musician. I kept a job at Old Navy, as a part time sales associate, I’m done with being in charge. I am not nieve about this, I am well aware that they do not hand out record deals at the “Welcome to Nashville” sign. However, life is an adventure, so take some chances! I have no kids, or wife, or any one depending on me, except myself, so NOW is the time to live!
This blog is about my adventures living down in The South, in Middle Tennessee. I don’t know if anyone will read this, but if you do I hope you enjoy! Living in the South is going to be an adventure all on it’s own, I grew up in Seattle, and have lived in Long Beach CA, the last 6 years. I loved growing up in Washington, and have absolutely fallen in love with Southern California, however, I’ve always been Country, and a bit of a hillbilly at heart, so I couldn’t be more excited to actually live in Tennessee! Here… We…. Go..!
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