“By day The Lord delivers His love, at night His song is with me” - Psalm 42:8
— Bible
I grew up immersed in music, learning guitar from my grandma Ruby and Gary Whitley. Playing in bands was a big part of my life as a young man, but before long, I felt drawn to other instruments like the fiddle and mandolin. After receiving formal music education, opportunities began to open up, and I was fortunate to land some exciting gigs. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of playing fiddle with Jana Jae and Ronnie Dunn, performing in concerts with legends like Charley Pride, Charly McClain, Earl Thomas Conley, and The Outlaws, and sharing the stage with many other incredible artists. Meeting people from all walks of life and connecting through music has truly been one of the greatest blessings of my journey.
Bio
Born in 1955, I began my educational journey in Tulsa, attending kindergarten there, before continuing my schooling in Sand Springs. At the age of 12, I experienced a spiritual transformation and was "born again." However, my path took a different turn as I strayed from my faith. See I started playing Bass guitar for “The Massey Bros. Band, and delved into drug use during my high school years. I experimented with substances like Pot, LSD, Mesculine, and MDMA.
After a period of abstaining from drugs, my life took a musical turn when I secured a role playing guitar and fiddle on the road in 1980. This was a toed gig opening, and headline some concerts. It marked the rekindling of my marijuana use (first concert, and a few years before we were at Cain’s ballroom, and my (then) wife said as I was heading out back to get high {marijuana, and she said”I wish you’d quit smoking cigarettes, and damn it if she didn’t quit} So my first show with this road band the drummer and keyboardist asked me if I wanted to get high. Wanting to fit in I so I said ok. Which was a HUGE mistake 🤣 Following my time on the road, I took charge of forming my own musical groups. It was during this phase that I fell into the grip of addiction, particularly to Methamphetamine, which would haunt me for decades.
Navigating through life's challenges, including a divorce, a new chapter began when I met my current wife, Donna. A turning point came when I found deliverance from the clutches of the destructive drug through divine intervention. I disturbingly took a turn toward alcohol, which in my opinion is the WORSE chemical of all, (at least for me) , but I lived through that, and with renewed purpose, Donna and I embarked on a musical journey, recording two CDs. Notably, the most recent release features a collection of uplifting Christian music.
As I continue to evolve creatively, I remain dedicated to writing and sharing my music, with a steadfast commitment to spreading positivity and inspiration. You can find my work on #gpmusicc.com.