The Simple Strings

Experience

IN THE BEGINNING:

My journey began in 1990, when my father bought me a classical guitar on my fourteenth birthday. Like most teenagers, my first conquest was to learn how to play the most sacred of all songs, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven”. I started by familiarizing myself with this magical, hand crafted work of art. After countless hours of finger numbing, not only from the strings but also from pushing the rewind, pause and play button on my cassette player, and with determination and drive, I was successful and learned how to play my first song. Playing the guitar came naturally to me, but I was still rough around the edges. As time went on, I continued to teach myself how to play by using manuals and by ear. It wasn’t till I decided to take lessons from an instructor my playing improved. Although I had the ability to teach myself, I still needed the guidance and the basic principles in becoming a better musician.

AND THEN:

As the years went on, I played with other musicians exchanging ideas and getting tips which help me advance as a musician. As I became a more experienced guitar player, I discovered my ability to sing. My music career began in 1997, when I was recruited to be a frontman for a rock and roll /blues band. Rehearsing and performing with experienced musicians took me to another level. My band mates, whom were all trained professionals, elevated my talent. In 1998 while attending college in Orlando, Florida, I was a member of the guitar club which held an annual talent showcase. I performed as a soloist for an audience of over two hundred in attendance. In 1999 after auditioning for a Motown musical review, I was selected to be the lead guitarist and a vocalist. We performed several different venues such as colleges from Upstate New York to Louisiana, inner city schools in the five boroughs of New York and community and youth centers for an audience of all ages.

AS I CONTINUE:

In 2000, I enlisted in the Army. After 911, I was sent over seas. Although time was limited, I still managed to continue to play guitar. In 2003 while serving in Afghanistan, a group of soldiers and I formed a band and competed for a talent show hosted by the camps Morale, Welfare and Recreation. After competing against numerous and talented acts, we placed in second. This past January, I was invited to play for an International Night Festival hosted by Cathedral School in Raleigh. With only a few days to rehearse, I was able to teach the students from the school several songs and their performances were met with standing ovations. On March 10th, I competed in the 2009 Creative Arts Festival at the Durham VA Medical Center and placed first in in the regionals for my category. My performance is currently being reviewed for the national judging and if selected I will be given the opportunity to perform in San Antonio, Texas this October. The results are still pending.