Music

Music was either being sung, played or playing on the radio at my house and my grandmother and aunt's place. I sang in plays and programs while in elementary school. After hearing jazz men Grover Washington Jr. and Charlie Parker, I started playing alto saxophone and even served as drum major at Middleton Jr High for Dr."Prof" Rodriguez and the  Fighting Tigers.

I started singing in Tyer Temple UMC's choir during that time as well as playing saxophone and singing at different functions with other local musicians like pianist Bop Jackson, vocalist/musician Ronda Paramoure and guitarist Ron Harris. Classics like, "After All", "You are so Beautiful", "For the Love of You", "Moody's Mood", "Tonight, I celebrate My Love to You", "Just the Two of Us, "This Masquerade" and "Feel the Fire" were often covered at local events and parties to enthusiastic party goers.

The music I sing, play and write has been heavily influenced by artists including Earth,Wind and Fire, George Benson, Julian Lage, Al Jarreau, Frank Sinatra, Bill Withers, Nat "King" Cole, Maze, The Allman Brothers, Beny More', Quincy Jones, Peabo Bryson, The Eagles, Brooke Benton, Duke Ellington, George Howard, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke, Lightin' Hopkins, Earl Klugh, Al Green, The Black Crowes, Lester Young, Al Di Meola, Rosa Goodwin, Diane Schuur, Marvin Gaye, Cameo, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Victor Wooten, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Skip James, The Soul Stirrers, Lonnie Johnson, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Louis Armstrong, Carlos Santana, Hank Williams, Phil Keaggy, Robert L. Ellis, Donny Hathaway, The Beatles, Luther Dickinson, Elvin Jones, Louis Jordan, Miles Davis, Charlie Patton, Wes Montgomery, Led Zepplin, Jeff Coffin, Bootsy Collins, The Steve Miller Band, Charlie Byrd, Najee, ELO, Traffic, Robert Johnson, Erick Turnbull, Michael Franks, Nick Colionne, Charlie Christian, Larry Carlton, Prince, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Muddy Waters, The Crusaders, Sly and the Family Stone, Eric Clapton, Gordon Lightfoot, The Doors, Joe Williams, BB King, Oscar Moore, John Coltrane and Be Be Winans to name a few.

After starting a family, I spent a few years away from music. Though I wasn't performing, I started recording my own ideas. Eventually, I started a music production company and began collaborating with other local musicians including future band mates, acoustic guitarist and songwriter David Hinton, percussionist Mack McCormick, Flautist Ronda Paramoure and Electric guitarist Basil Powell. With Black Wolf Entertainment Inc., I provided recorded music for public events and shows, recorded live performances and arranged sequenced music for performing artists. During that time, I was fortunate enough to have a few songs included on projects and sessions by Shumah Music vocalist/musician and sister, Ronda Paramoure. I co-produced the title track on the Surrounds Me Like A Shield release as well as co-writing another song chosen for the project entitled Focused. The material was well received and the experience was invaluable. She is a great talent.

While we used the sequenced arrangement for the Focused release, that song was one of the first I'd written on acoustic guitar. I'd been recording and collaborating with guitarists for a while when I became more interested in writing songs with guitar instead of the synth. I had two grandfathers that swore by the instrument, and I "reckon" I was bit by the bug. I've been writing, recording and performing with acoustic guitar ever since.

I've performed at events such as the Hillsborough County African Heritage Celebration, Robert Moffa's musical production of "How Great Thou Art", CTN's "A Celebration of Praise featuring Ron Rosson and Friends" television show, Delta Sigma Theta's Jabberwocky Celebration, Carrollwood and Brandon area Barnes & Noble Book Stores, The Ignition Conference, Candy Lowe Tea Time events as well as numerous private events.