Song-writer, arranger, guitar, keyboard/synth, vocals.

Exploring  various styles and topics.  Variety is the spice of life.

Joined this community of artists in July of 2011, and quickly observed the community-spirit of artists who take the time to listen to other artists' work and comment meaningfully and positively. The vibe is one of encouragement and helping out.

This was quickly expressed more tangibly in the number of collaborations that were being uploaded and that caught my attention. People were willing to offer skills and abilities, knowledge and understanding, and check their egos at the door and be willing to engage the difficult task of trying to work together for a common good - a better track. THIS has been an education for me and the learning that occurs as a result of working together is extraordinary.

Special mentions to those who have included me in their work, and they in mine: James Bell - not only got the ball rolling but is a kindred spirit; Dachleigh Music (Adam) - who used my cello lines in a some electronic music; Deggsy Music and DawnSinclair - the two are not always inseparable but they work so well together (that  RnB will be a highlight!); Deon - we didn't do a lot together, but the journey was expansive; Rich Lodato, whose voice and guitar invites the cello to weave a melody too; AmorfoxiZ (Alfonso,)  more cello; Left Ear Bleed (Jeff)...always good to help younger artists; Liquid (Anthony Gee) the budding rock keyboardist ;) and Michael Ritchie - consummate riff-meister and gentle spirit...thanks to one and all for including me in their journeys! FUN!...gotta be more fun than work or it isn't fun any more ;)  Special mention to TomC in PC FL, for sharing his journey and struggles. Hang in there Tom!

Also a note of GRATITUDE...that is the theme for my class of students. A number of artists from mp3u have contributed messages addressed to my class, and some have written wonderful tracks to help us find a calm and gentle start to our days of turbulence. Dan Michaelson, Peter Vines...great ambient tracks and such wonderful messages - you two were the first off the mark and set the bar very high for how to approach a class that you didn't really know; Will Riding...the Sleeping Giants was an awesome introduction to story-telling through music; Erik Jurado...straight from you heart to right where my kids are...amazing intuition; Kelly Mitchell...your artist comment narrative was inspirational on over-coming obstacles; Mike Ritchie - one boy has become filled with hope because of a specific word of encouragement...how incredibly awesome! ; Deon -many positive messages and ideas about life and existence, as well as ways to find calm in the midst of Life - looking forward tomore of your special way of looking at life;  Rich - sent along some A/V material...journey into visual art...chalked full of encouraging words... some fine vocal/visual/philosphical chicken soup for the teen-aged soul, I think;  Liquid (Anthony Gee), who has created some fine music for the class and sent a wonderful interview for the class to listen to. We are also enjoying some wonderful orchestral arrangements from AndyF (Andrew Foyston), and a superbly written note to the students. 

In 2013 we heard from KtA (Marty Etheridge) - the students love the DnB stuff; ATuesdayParadox (Kevin Gibbons) - a very encouraging message and pics pf Wales;  Lazy Jane (Will Walton) sent along well-wishes from Georgia, DNA Codex (Andrew Shields)- not only introduced us to Surrealism, he showed us how to paint in a surealistic style with some extraordinary youtube clips with his wonderful ambient/electronica in the background; Essence - little did I know that in trying to find female artists to represent more gender equity, you would step in and tell a heart-changing story that resonated in all of us, and in one young woman in particular - you cast the seeds and often never know what good will result, so we trust and carry on; Keith Allen and Wednesday Wilson are also going to contribute their own stories and words of encouragement. In  all of these personal touches and positive interactions there will be Wellness!

If there are any artists who wish to learn about the Wellness Project for this school year (Sept 2012-June 2013), or who wish to contribute, please feel free to contact any of the artists who have participated already, or contact me directly by clicking on the "e-mail" button at the top of the page here, or send along a PM (I do check fairly regularly)

TBW

*Equipment:

Norman Acoustic, Epiphone SG Double Neck Electric, Ibanez Roadstar II, Cello, Ensoniq EPS, Korg M1Rex, PC, M- audio 410,  Cakewalk X1 Studio, Sony MDMX-4, Aiwa powered speakers, Radio Shack consumer headphones, AKG C1000S mic and Rode NT1A -  bottom-line…it may be old(er) gear for the most part,  but like myself, all the parts work (at the moment)   ;)

**My creative space -a.k.a. "hobbit hole studio" - is a cinder block fruit cellar, 6x9, with a 6in poured concrete slab ceiling…nice reflective surfaces for some interesting vocals if they are not tamed..the furnace is old and loud and is adjacent, and the main waste pipe from the second floor passes through the “studio” so I have to record before the household awakes or after they are asleep because a single toilet flush can “wh- o-o-o-s-s-h-h-“ through a track like a roar of a jet engine, giving new meaning to the phrase I have come to accept as part of my Buddhist experience -  “Flushed Away!”