![]() This time he had more experience, was better known and had better contacts. The contract wasn’t meant to be – at least not then.Ĭonvinced that music was his calling, he moved to Nashville in 1987. ![]() He went to Tennessee and back to Oklahoma in less than 24 hours. He also drove to Nashville hopeful of being given a recording contract. In 1986 he got married to a girl he’d met while working as a bouncer in one of the bars. His band also played some of his original songs including I’m Too Young (To Feel This Damned Old). He worked on developing his voice, playing better guitar and learning how to be an entertainer – one who had a connection with the audience. He formed another band – which he called Santa Fe – with whom he played at clubs and halls around the OSU campus in Stillwater. He played venues such as Shotgun Sam’s Pizza Parlor and Willie’s Saloon. When he first heard George Strait’s “Unwound” he knew the direction his music would take. It’s not surprising that he was also influenced by country music, especially greats such as George Jones and Merle Haggard. He loved classic rock bands and appreciated their talent as entertainers as well as musicians. He would put all of his energy and talent into music.Ī variety of artists had impacted his taste in music – James Taylor, Elton John, Billy Joel and Don McLean – especially the song American Pie. After he’d finished poorly in the season’s final competition, his coach said – Good, now you can focus on what you’re meant to do.” Music. Eventually he competed exclusively in the javelin throw. Oklahoma State University gave him a sports scholarship to run track, as they had to his brother before him. Throughout high school, he formed a couple of bands and sang with the school vocal group. He began with an acoustic guitar, got an electric guitar and eventually was given a banjo. Music continued to be at the core of his existence – singing, playing, entertaining. He played sports throughout high school where, while decent, he never truly excelled. He was charming with a magnetic personality – he liked people and they liked him, especially the girls. He developed an interest in – no, a love of music at an early age. It was ok to fail – as he would later recall, “It was a house you could make mistakes in.” ![]() ![]() The kids were encouraged to try new things, to stretch their imaginations and their talents. There was singing, instruments, joke telling and more. His mother, a one-time professional singer, brought her love of music to the family and there were frequent family gatherings built around entertainment hours. When he was four, his parents moved from Tulsa to the small town of Yukon, Oklahoma. Designations such as stepfather, half-brother, stepdaughter weren’t used by the family – they were just parents, children, brothers and sisters. His mother had three children from her first marriage, his father had one. It was the second marriage for both of his parents While he was the second son born to the couple (February 7th, 1962). ![]()
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