Billy Dean Writers Block Retreat 6/6/11

The short story:  I am a Singer Songwriter who loves music…music with meaning. I call it Roots Music because it comes from within. I started writing songs after an auto accident in Apr 2009. This accident changed the course of my life. I never had any music training and am self-taught. I write and produce my own material. To Date (Nov 2011) I have written over 160 songs and countless Poems. Come on by and lend me your ears. Hopefully the music will refresh you. Peace….. Andrew Neil

The long story: I was born Andrew Neil Maternick, in Colorado in the month of Aug 1988.  Raised in Northern Virginia, my life revolved around athletics.  A three sport athlete in high school I eventually received an opportunity to play Division-1 lacrosse at the US Military Academy at West Point.  I attended the US Military Academy Prep School (USMAPS) for a year after High school, graduating in Jun 2008 and received my appointment to West Point.  I entered in the fall of 2008 with the class of 2012.  In Dec. 2008, hampered by injury inside and out, I resigned and left the Point. In Dec 2008 I returned to Northern Virginia, unsure of what I wanted to do in life, and very aware of what I had given up.  I began working for a moving company and decided to enlist in the US Marine Corps.  I was to report in Apr 2009, but my reporting date was delayed until May due to a hand injury.  In April 2009- @ 2pm…all my plans were changed….. sober, but no seat belt, driving around a bend &down a hill @ 55 mph I crashed into an “improperly stopped vehicle” that should not of been there.   No one was hurt except me.  The occupants of the improperly parked car were on the side of the road.  They stopped their vehicle because an empty 5 gal plant bucket was stuck underneath their car.  I forgive them for not pulling their car off the road onto the shoulder.  I was air-evacked in a helo to the Hospital, as I sustained what appeared to be a serious head injury and possible neck injury. The officer on the scene told my dad that the accident would have killed most people.  For some reason I was spared….so with the Almighty's love shielding me, I was walked out of the hospital late that night.  However, my life drastically changed with this close call with death.  I had some complications after the accident, which also landed me in some dark places and changed my plans to join the military. In the fall of 2009 I started writing songs on the keyboard (Listen to “Headed to Mars ©”, “C'est La Vie ©” and “People Think ©”, “Mirror Mirror ©” I never had any music training, so I self-taught myself.  I could hear the melodies in my head…the words just flowed.   In Apr-May 2010, I picked up the guitar for the first time. Again…with no formal musical training…started composing songs with the guitar.   One of my first guitar songs is on my reverb site and is called “Fire is Born ©”.  I would go to my music recording technology classes at NOVA Community College and play my original songs for the class on the top two strings of the guitar.  Mr. Sanjay Mishra*, head of the program, would encourage me to continue developing my own style.   Since Jan 2010, I have written over 160 songs and a large number of poems.   My goal was to make 1 song a month…so I guess I exceeded this goal.  I have many more songs in the development stage.  I write and produce all my songs in a makeshift studio in the basement of my parents’ home.  Where will these songs lead? I hope…they lead to a positive place, where love echoes around Earth's face.  I am hoping that in some way, people’s lives will be a little better for listening, not only to my music, but to the music of other artists as well.  Our lives are short on the earth and music and art can be a positive force to bring people together.  To sum it up….here is the last verse of a song I wrote called “Run Away Train ©

In the train I’ve come to learn before becomes after

And heavy tears can really turn into laughter

Blink after blink time disappears faster and faster

And all the ink of many years writes one chapter

From "Run Away Train" ©

Peace….Andrew Neil  *A Special Thank You goes out to Sanjay Mishra who have encouraged me to continue.  (*Mr. Mishra did a collaborative album with Gerry Garcia in 1994 called Blue Incantation http://www.mishra.net/blueincantation/blueincantation.html ALL MUSIC POSTED ON THIS SITE IS ALL MY MUSIC THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN, COMPOSED, AND PRODUCED BY ME AND IS UNDER FEDERAL COPYRIGHT.