I began playing keyboards at age four when my family purchased a piano. My mother played piano as did my grandmother and older brother. They taught me how to play hymns and popular tunes. I remember going to a high school football game and the band played the school’s alma-mater. I went home and picked the song out and it really surprised my family that I was able to play by ear from memory. At that time I attempted to take lessons but the teachers said I was too young. I had to wait until I was the ripe old age of six. I continued piano lessons until age 20. I studied piano and music theory at Converse College pre-college music program which was open to all Spartanburg county S.C. resident students. During my junior high school and high school years I also studied drums and percussion. I learned to play xylophone and studied various styles of music and became very interested in drums. I had several drum kits and eventually played snare drum in South Carolinas all state band. I found that a working knowledge of drums aided my piano/keyboard playing. I later returned to Converse college’s music program to study violen.

I joined my first band at age 16. I played top forty and rock and roll with a group of friends and my brother .Our first job was on Labor day 1977. We played a benefit(Labor day bar-b-que) at the local national guard armory and the workers complained that our music was too loud because "they could not hear the hash orders." They politely fired us but that was no problem. We had an afternoon job booked for the same day where we could play as loud as we wanted to.

I soon figured out that playing country music was very enjoyable for me. I played in a country band named Shine. We played for big crowds at a night club called the Honky Tonk. And the name fit well. It was a great experience. I began to be influenced by the playing Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and the country classic piano player, Floyd Cramer. His style continues to influence music today.

Tobacco Road was formed in 1990 as a venue to showcase song writing and original music. I began to write and co write tunes with the other band members. It all has been hard work over the years but it has been a labor of love. The band members are a band of brothers which makes our endeavor really worth while.