The Guitar Story...

Life is a wave, it is a moving series of moments and nows, a compilation of ups and downs and peaks and valleys, that added up define the individual journey. And in that journey there are certain events that take place, marked moments in time that have a deeper impact on a life and change it in an instant, divine moments that drastically change us forever. These moments are called miracles. This is a miracle story, a true story of a man and a guitar, how they found each other and where the destiny of their meeting has led them…

Sunday
Father's Day

June 20, 1999

Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, Colorado

 

It is Sunday, June 20, 1999. This day is the last day of the 26th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado and a miracle day that would change my life and move me into the path of my future. It is early afternoon and I am standing by the fence at the northeast corner of the Town Park Campground with a view of the mountains, the stage, the crowd, the vendors, and this whole event. I have spent the past week camping in the campground, which is literally right next to this incredible outdoor venue, enjoying a week of meeting amazing people, looking at beautiful scenery, laughing with friends and having the best musical experience that I have ever had. With peanut butter and jelly in hand, I go over the week in my mind; my first trip to Telluride and the Festival, the land rush for camping spots, the people, the place and the music. Ah yes, the music that touched my soul and made my spirit soar, that moment when Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmie Lou Harris sang 'One Cool Removed' and made me cry, listening to Leo Kottke from my tent with the patter of rain on the trees as his rhythm section and the late night jam sessions that filled the air into the late dark of night. All those moments and many, many more are etched in me.

I am pulled back to the present moment by the announcement of the Festival's annual raffle Grand Prize, this year a Dreadnought HD28 custom Martin guitar! On Friday, I had purchased one ticket for two dollars while on a trip to town. Some little boy and his Mom were selling tickets in the park, so I bought one. I filled out all the information, got ready to put it in the box and saw all those other pieces of paper with all those other names on them, all laying there flat. So I kissed my ticket, folded it, bent the corner, crunched it up ever so slightly for a little bit of texture and put it in. With so much music and fun every day, all day, I had forgotten about the raffle, until now. There I stood staring at the stage a few hundred yards away, sandwich in hand, heart racing, feeling the tickling anticipation of…something? The guitar was now being displayed on stage by the Martin representative who had brought it and all the tickets were now in the guitar case being held by the emcee. The emcee proceeds to call his 8 year old daughter up on the stage to draw the winning name. I am electric and planted.

We all watch as this 8 year old angel reaches up into the case. She nervously shuffles through the flat pieces of paper with her tiny hand and hurriedly grabs the first one with some texture. She takes it out and hands it to her Dad. A moment of drama…, then he reads the zip code, then the city and state, then the area code, then the phone number real slow and finally, MY NAME!

I am rooted to the ground with arms and fists straight up in the air…and screaming my head off! It takes a moment or two to calm down when you win anything, let alone a $3,500 Dreadnought HD28 custom Martin guitar! I am with friends in the campground and have to walk around and into the venue, then up to the stage to claim my treasure. The walking distance and celebrating along the way keep me from my opportunity to be up on that wonderful stage. By the time we arrive, they are directing me back stage to claim my prize. I meet the Martin rep and am given a most incredible gift! A beautiful brand new Martin guitar and a sweet case! I get some information about my new friend from my new Martin brother, have a quick chat with the radio folks and I'm walking away with this marvelous instrument that immediately changes my life. Blown away am I! Things have never been the same…

As a guitar playing singer/songwriter/performer, I had just received the greatest gift and hugest blessing. I knew right then the value and meaning of the moment, but I didn't know where it would take me from there and how much more value and meaning it would add to my life. I played it the day I got it and then spent three weeks smelling the wood, looking at the workmanship and just holding my guitar before I played it again. Since then, I've taken it everywhere I go and play it all the time. It will be five years Sunday, June 20, 2004, when I had the honor of meeting one of the best friends of my life. We have spent that time in loving passionate pursuit of a dream to share our gift of music with as many people in the world as possible.

Receiving my Martin five years ago has inspired and pushed me to follow and fulfill that dream: I released my first cd in June 2001; worked out of and lived in my truck for eight months to save money for my first tour of three and a half months in Europe in the fall of 2001; a return trip to England and Wales in the spring of 2002; had my guitar stolen in San Francisco in April 2002 and got it back; over the last five years have moved from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco to Europe to Lake Tahoe to where I am now in Columbus, Ohio in search of music, friends and family; through a grass roots effort, my music is across the US, Europe and parts of the East; I began recording my latest cd in December 2003 and am shooting for a June 2004 release; I go to as many schools when I can and play for as many kids as I can; and spread as much love as possible.

Music is one of the greatest healing forces in this world and to receive such a gift as an amazing guitar at an incredible festival is overwhelming. This guitar is one of my best friends, it is my writing and performing partner, it is my calm when I am stressed, it is my mentor and healer and much, much more. I am still comprehending the impact this has all had on my life. I do know that I am honored and grateful to have received this gift and to be able to share it with the world. The future is uncertain, but what is certain is that my guitar was meant for me and I was meant for it and together, we can join in healing the world. I wanted to share this story with all of you because, miracles are happening, everyday! This one happened to me on this day at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Let music heal the world!

Breathe. Smile. Be.

Big Water