I started stringing words together on paper as a form of self-expression when I was just a teenager. The idea of leaving something tangible, that wasn't there before, through writing has always been a way for me to blow off steam and have a little fun.
I guess I was writing a primitive form of poetry back when I was a youngster (45 some odd years ago), and it wasn’t a far leap to song. I’m not a very talented guitar player (strummer) or singer (laughs) but I’ve always loved music, all kinds of music. Growing up in the late 60’s and 70’s, the artists of the day left a big impression on me. My influences are probably not much different from others of my day, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, etc., and it wasn’t a far stretch later in my life to Steve Earle, John Prine and Todd Snider.
I wrote some songs when I was 16 or 17 years old and recorded them on a reel to reel tape player my buddy had. I’m pretty sure they were bad but when I went to college and played the songs I wrote for my friends and classmates, it seemed like everyone had a good time, for 4 years, one good time after another ... I'm not sure the fun was about me and my songs ... hey were kids away from home ... ha ha.
While in college, I got some poetry published in a poetry magazine and I was playing my songs for my friends on weekends at little party's in the various houses and dorms around campus. After graduation, I got a job, fell in love, got married, had kids and didn’t play my guitar or write another thing for about 20 years.
At some point I realized I didn’t have much interest in anything outside of my job and family, and I needed a hobby, so I picked up my guitar and played, just like yesterday, ummmm, so I did. I purchased a little Teac 4-track cassette recorder and a microphone, and started making up folky type songs (I need to find those cassette tapes and listen them I... think). About the same time, computers and the internet were becoming all the rage. I bought my first computer and found myself exploring the world wide web. Much to my surprise there were several songwriting forums in existence. Some basic forums and some more advanced. I joined a basic forum that I think was called the Songwriters Forum – not much on originality as the name goes, but I spent some time on there listening and getting acquainted with people who wrote songs or at least tried to write songs.
I believe it was on that forum that I met John Westwood, a.k.a. Carr, who was at times being the devil over there at the Songwriter Forum, and therefore whenever he posted something, it was mostly met with debate or silence from other posters (out of fear I guess). It was from the Songwriters Forum that I followed Carr and some of his lyrics over to Songramp, which in my mind was a more advanced version of the Songwriter Forums. I worked up the nerve and commented on one of his lyrics called Writers Block Blues and I found Carr to be quite the opposite of his Songwriter Forum persona … a genuine sweetheart. I don’t know how many songs we worked up together but it was quite a few. Having listened to most of them recently, I think we had a couple of pretty cool numbers and a couple that I hope to never hear again LOL and BTW - (mostly because of me) cause I didn't know what I was doing - still don't. John and I were like a machine there for a good while but like most things in life it kind of ran it's course.
I wrote a couple of songs with my wife, who is a better lyricist than I, and had an honorable mention in a Nashville Songwriting contest with her. I've had a few songs written with other co-writers published, and a cut by an indie artist. It was fun but nothing serious. My older brother Mark has been a songwriter his entire life and has had several major cuts including Gayle Davies, Clay Davidson, and most recently Craig Wayne Boyd (My Baby's Got A Smile On Her Face). He has had numerous minor cuts and commercials. He intimidates me so I keep my hobby from him (Mostly).
I guess I’ve made up songs here and there, recorded some with the most basic knowledge of DAW (hey you know you can make music on your computer now), and after all of these years I find myself at the ripe old age of 58 years old wanting to get better in all aspects of writing and recording, mostly because I’m not very good and everyone needs a hobby.
So it is, that I am here on the new and improved Songramp after quite an absence. I’ve spent several months listening to others and I am so impressed with the talent that I have found here. Ya’ll have some mind blowing talent and songs just waiting to be cut, and if it is your wish, I hope you get a cut.
It is my wish and desire to just get a little better, make a couple of friends along the way, and to see what is next. You guys are the best … if you're still with me …. thanks for reading. Everyone has a story and I'd love to read yours.
