According to my zodiac, I ought to be a musician, but that never really happened except for a lame attempt at the guitar and trumpet. Here's the thing...the story... My father was the most country assed racist you ever run across. I never ever heard anything but country music and religious music growing up. In 1977, Elvis did a TV special. My first exposure to something different. I kinda backtracked after his movies and "American Graffiti." I kinda fell in love with 50's doowop and R&B Dad tolerated, because he was "familiar." I remember one time he took us to see the movie "Woodstock" and he was SO offended. Shortly after we moved into some apartments in L.A. While we were moving in there was a "mariachi" band playing...I thought..."how cool is that?" So, I started smoking weed... because it was kinda a thing. Fast forward a couple of years and remember...my exposure was to country music, Elvis and 50's doowop. Moved back to Oklahoma and met some inlaws with similar proclivities to smoking weed. I found myself in this apartment with a friend a few years older. He lights an incense and a joint, then puts Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" on the turntable. From that point... country music for me was gone. My friend followed with the "Cars" and my path was set. All the 80's anthem bands hit me right in the heart. My first concert alone..."ZZ Top" on the "Duegello" tour. Took me right down the southern rock lane...loved'em all! Skynrd, 38 special, Black Oak Arkansas, Blackfoot, Outlaws...lost an eardrum at Molly Hatchet. There was that few years of that as I found my way to a prospect for a biker gang. Just before that...like me second or third concert was "Rush," okay...another whole new world. Progressive, new age, enlightened...I dropped acid for the first time and lost my virginity the same night. Here I am deep into southern rock...doing new drugs...finding new music...drifting into Zeppelin, the Doors, Yes, Chicago...kinda thinking I might mellow out. Disco comes and goes...only mildly intrigued, however as I went to a primarily black high school...I kinda got the real education on the r&b, beginning hip hop, Motown...cool exposure. I'll never forget George Clinton and the Funkadelic's. Fast forward a few years...falling in love...getting my heart broke. Fell into major depression as love died. What brought me back? Metal! Metallica, Judas Priest, Anthrax, Motorhead, Pantera. Found my truth in angry pounding music! Still love it. I used to trip my students out... because.. I look old and conservative. They caught me more than once grading papers to "Breaking the Law" One student remarked, " I would have never guessed! That you was off the chains metal..." I said, "Old School..." Here I am today...into stuff like Nick Cave and Tom Wait...with a healthy dose of bluegrass...who would have thought? What a journey, what a library in my head, kinda feel like I ought to document it.