Chasing The Wind

This music is based on years of recovery experience- my own, and many people I've known in my role as chaplain for a recovery center. I had many opportunities to use the rock, the ballads, the classical influences in my music, and the more honest I got, the better it went. I drew from many inspirations, like classic rock artists such as Argent, Free, Grand Funk Railroad, Yes, Kansas, and many others, as well as classical music, gentler artists like James Taylor or Bread- folks who knew how to craft and perform songs. Over tha past 4 decades I've honed my own style, working with numerous rock bands and also doing solo tunes in many venues, ranging from bars to churches. I've worked hard to have integrity and transparency, since honesty is such an essential in recovering from whatever poison ails us- the substances like alcohol or other drugs, experiences like pornography, gambling, or adrenaline sports, or overeating, undereating, or things like emotional relationships that are destructive. These are life and death illnesses that kill a lot of good people, and it has become a passion to talk about what has worked for me and for those who work at recovery instead of self-destruction. Music seems like an especially powerful way to communicate, and I use brevity and simplicity in my songwriting approach, with lyrics that are clear, yet have multi-layered meanings, much like I see in good poetry or any good art. I work to keep it simple, yet meaningful and impacting. Since I grew up listening to the classic rock greats, much of this influence has shown up in my music, yet I also see unique and particular elements in my tunes. There are 'sticky' melodies and images, and sometimes listeners get a little annoyed that once they hear a tune, they may find themselves humming it all day...which as a songwriter and musician makes me smile. I think too there are healing elements in the music, since it's all about healing, in one way or another. It's healing to speak the truth in a time of many egregious lies- and I work to speak the truth. It's healing to find ways to live and become more whole, rather than to perpetrate slow suicide, as we addicts do so well.