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<p align="center">I got my first guitar at the ripe old age of 12. It was a Sears Silvertone acoustic &amp; quite a piece it was. About a year later my Dad hooked me up with a local guitar guru for a few lessons. Unfortunately, my patience for learning to read music faded quickly, &amp; my teacher decided it best to end the endeavor.</p>
<p align="center">I progressed on my own for the next 3 years playing along with LP's by The Marshall Tucker Band, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Eric Clapton, &amp; some others.</p>
<p align="center">Eventually, I hooked up with some other fellows from the neighborhood to form a top 40 club band. At the time, our lead singer was the only one in the band old enough to drive. We would load all the equipment we had into my Dad's Plymouth &amp; head off to the local VFWs, American Legions &amp; Fire Halls. We became Local "Child Stars", But all good things must come to an end. The State Liquor Control Board wasn't real happy about a group of kids ranging in age from 14 -16 playing in the local bar &amp; club scene. We shifted our focus to play carnivals &amp; private parties for a few years. By the time we were old enough to get back to the club scene, we had all gone our separate ways. I played with several bands over the next 20 years &amp; had some great fun.</p>