Biography

I was born in a small log cabin in rural Wythe county Virginia the third son of four to a farmer and sometimes carpenter who played anything with strings .My mom played some too.
I had polio as a boy when I was four as part of my rehabilitation my Mom & Dad encouraged me in music. So it's no wonder it's in my blood .
I started with the harmonica , then the guitar , then came the mandolin and last but not least the banjo . My love for music has been a passion as long as I can remember .
At the age of fifteen I wrote one of the first songs I recorded about my sweetheart . Since then I have written several hundred songs and recorded a number of them . If you are curious about my life just take a listen , because most of my songs are about personal experiences or things I have seen as I passed through life .
I continued to write new music over the years and played with numerous bands then I started my own band about ten years ago called " Appalachian Countdown " where I am lead singer and play rhythm guitar.
Most of my life has been dedicated to raising my children having been blessed with 3 fine sons and 3 lovely daughters .
Over the years I worked at most every kind of job to provide for my large family from coal minor to engineering instructor .but my " first love "as far as a vocation goes has always been my music .
Now with my children all grown and having families of their own I am able to turn more of my attention to following my dream in music .
Being recognized as a gifted song writer on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry has always been my dream