Bio
I was given my first guitar by my parents when I was about 13 or 14. I started taking lessons immediately as well as learning a lot on my own which pretty much gave way to me just teaching myself. Well…sort of. Me, Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen would have lessons together everyday after school. I learned a lot from them and all of the other music of the 70’s. I didn’t know about Christian music then, in fact, there weren’t nearly as many artists as there are now.
So I started playing in cover bands for school dances and clubs and wherever we could play. After that chapter in my life had closed a friend played me a song by a Christian band, Undercover. I had no idea this type of music existed. So, in short, I packed up the car, moved to Nashville and for the next 14 years or so played for artists and bands which are too many to name until I joined MercyMe in 2003. I’ve been playing a long time but find that there is still something to learn. I feel blessed every day to be able to do what I love.
Q&A
Wife:
Karla
Pet(s):
Our 2 Pembroke Welsh Corgis – Jake & Sugar
Where were you born and where have you lived?
Born in Baltimore, MD and have lived in Nashville,TN and Greenville, TX
Best childhood memory:
Camping with my family
What are you most known for saying?
That’s just great!
If the bus were burning, what is the one musical instrument you would grab?
My Les Paul (guitar)
Favorite quote:
Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end!
Favorite color(s):
I like most of them.
Hobbies and/or favorite thing(s) to do in your leisure time:
Read, golf, write music, run and watch the History channel
Collect anything?
Coins and divot tools from golf courses around the country
A band/artist that inspired you the most:
Led Zeppelin
What’s on your ipod playlist?
SRV, Jerry Douglas, U2, hmm, what isn’t on my ipod?
Favorite Movie(s):
The Hunt For Red October, Jaws and O Brother Where Art Thou
Favorite Book(s):
Descent Into Darkness: Pearl Harbor, 1941: A Navy Diver’s Memoir and Lion And Lamb by Brennan Manning
What for you is a good show and/or what is your favorite thing about playing?
A show could be going wrong in all directions (musically, technically) but it just takes that one thing, which could be someone has been touched by a song or something that was said to make it all worth it. Or, It may be that we all end a particular song like we said we were going to. Also, a good show for me is to not break any strings. It’s been quite some time so I’ve got a pretty good run going.
Gear
I am a product of the system! What I mean is I grew up on Christian music. I was that kid who, while singing in front of the mirror playing a mean tennis racket , imagined singing with my favorite Christian artist rather than some big rock star. Now some could say that was just the beginning of what would be a major calling in my life. I tend to think I just needed to play outside more and have fewer imaginary friends. Regardless how you choose to see it, this is who I am.
My parents asked me if I’d like to take piano lessons when I was 7 years old. I took them thru my freshman year in college. I played in several different bands before we started MercyMe.
I grew up in a Christian home, but not a terribly musical home. My parents, however, saw that I loved music from a young age and REALLY supported that. I started playing guitar when I was in 7th grade then quit 2 weeks later. I picked it up again when I was 15 and have been playing ever since. We started MercyMe when I was 19, so I didn’t have a whole lot of years under my belt, but no better place to learn how to play than in front of a crowd, right!
Everything about me is a bit of a mystery. Only those close to me know my origins. I am strange and unpredictable. Often known to ramble off some old quote no one knows only to then laugh at myself and carry on with the task at hand. I try to be a deep thinker, but usually only end up confusing myself and others with thoughts that are either brilliant or humorous. Not sure which… Okay, well maybe I am not that interesting.
I started playing drums when I was 7 years old. I was drawn to the drums at church and the drummer would let me sit behind them and pound away. Apparently I had a little rhythm because he told my parents that I did and not to quench it. So they didn’t. In fact, they bought me a drum set.
