Doors@4pm/Music 7-9pm

No Cover – Tips Kindly Appreciated

I have experienced many uplifting and wonderful moments in my musical journey over the years. It started as a teenager when I would listen to the radio and hear my world come alive through the voices and instruments of the great artists and bands of that day. I would sing those songs while growing up in the small Southeast Missouri town where I lived, in the cotton fields, and all along the country roads where I roamed. I tried my hand at guitar with a friend on an old Sears and Roebuck model, but it wasn’t until much later in college that I got more serious with the instrument. I took classical guitar, along with piano and vocal lessons and graduated with a Music Education Degree. I earned a teaching certificate but instead of teaching in public schools I began a 15 year journey in church music. I used the guitar in working with youth and senior adults and directed a lot of very good choirs. I directed and performed seasonal programs, conducted amateur orchestras and choir tours. I worked with a lot of wonderful people and many remain friends to this day. I eventually left church music and started working for the State of Missouri and music had to take a back seat to living and raising a family. During my tenure with the state I worked with more wonderful people, many of which were excellent musicians. We even found time to occasionally plug some music into our work. And then came retirement and along with it a very large amount of time to fill. Time for doing more of what I loved. I dusted off the guitar and began my musical journey anew. One of the first things I did was to seek out like minded musicians who believed in the the life changing power of music as I did. And although it was a slow process, I found a few locally and I’m discovering even more and making new friends as I continue writing, singing, and playing songs that reflect my musical journey – both old and new. It’s a long and winding journey that has taken a few detours along the way but it’s my journey and it will continue.