Music That Touches Hearts
My songs are carried by voice and acoustic guitar; they are shaped by a life full of stories and experiences. Drawing from indigenous roots, decades of advocacy, successes / mistakes, relationships and community. I write about love, hope and the human experience.
Whether you’re here for original music, poetry, writing inspiration or found this site by mistake, I invite you to explore, listen, and connect with the melodies and words that speak to your soul.
I am a singer, songwriter, poet and aspiring good guy. I was raised in a home that valued music – my father was a terrific and soulful singer who was a Southern Baptist choir director. His passion and talent were legendary in the area, bringing the old spirituals to life in a way that was impossible to ignore. I hope that I honor that commitment to the artistry, and to the journey toward a better tomorrow. I sang in a quartet as a youth and love the sounds of harmony in a song.
I grew up on the lower east side of Detroit, where Motown was (and still is) king. The experiences of the inner city as a youth still flavor my outlook toward life, people and all of creation. I had a front-row view of the civil uprisings of the sixties – in a poor community that was predominantly black. Through the insights of my native ancestry, the spiritual guidance from the words in red – and the examples of people who actually practiced compassion in their daily lives – I easily understood the frustrations that were acting out.
I am now retired, having had careers as a journeyman moldmaker, experimental and special projects in aerospace (sgt. york, space station, 1st reusable launch vehicle (delta clipper) and the last twenty years of my work life fighting for the rights of workers and others whose voices were being ignored.
I am an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe (paternal) and have Cherokee ancestry on the maternal lineage. My muse draws from this indigenous spirit and my desire leave things better than we find it.
I began performing as a singer-songwriter at the age of 66, getting up at an open mic for the first time. I am humbled by the acceptance I have received, and hope that you enjoy what you see / hear through these pages.
I am grateful that my muse guides me to write about issues and topics that may cause the listener to pause and think. As a change of pace, my muse shows a sense of humor at times – just to keep me on my toes.
If I can help people to connect with each other, to respect mother earth and all her inhabitants, the effort to will have been well worth it.
