Tell us about your tour vehicle.
For the last 4 years I have toured in a 23 foot class C RV, a 2008 Chevy Jamboree Sport 22b to be exact. Her name is “Mother Maybelle” named after Maybelle Carter who was known for physically picking up a drunk Hank Williams, putting him in the backseat of her car and driving him home to put him to bed. I have logged many miles and written many songs in that little RV and will cherish my time with her forever. She is now for sale π I am now playing more shows with my full band and travel in my drummer’s van. His van’s name is “Jennifer Vaniston” and she used to be a prison transport van and now makes me feel safe and secure on the road.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
Ummmmmm. It is really hard to do so on the road I have embraced my love of donuts and pastries and when I get home I usually crave salad and veggies.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I really don’t break strings very often but I do have several guitars, tenor guitars and tenor banjo that I change the strings on regularly. I have always been a fan of D’Addario strings and use their Nickel Bronze- Light Gage Acoustic Guitar Strings and their Tenor Banjo Nickel Plated Steel Strings and Tenor Guitar 80/20 Bronze Strings.
Where do you rehearse?
I write and solo rehearse just about anywhere. I travel a lot and have to make a comfortable place to play wherever I am. When I am at home my “office” is my living room couch in front of the shrine I built to Elvis.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
I’m not know for my memory skills and the first song I wrote was a very long time ago so I really don’t know but I’m sure it was dramatic, I was 15 years old.
Describe your first gig.
First solo gig was a coffee shop in Edmond, OK and was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been. First band gig was a Mexican food restaurant in OKC, OK. I wore a dress with black fur at the bottom, they said our band name on a local radio station and I thought that I had “made it”. I was 16 years old.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I have waited more than my fair share of tables and bartended for years. I’ve been able to play music full time for the last 4 years and that is one of the things that I am grateful for and mention in the lyrics of my new album Lucky. I am the founder and director of the Rock & Roll Camp for Girls OKC and work on the project year round but every July I get to work with 100 girls and women to make music and make the world a better place. That is my favorite job.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
I have had quite a bit of success in Europe in the last few years (8 tours in 2 years) (UK, Netherlands, Italy, Denmark) and love getting royalty checks in the mail. I truly am grateful that I get to do the one thing that I really love to do but money is nice. I hope that I get to continue to enjoy a steady incline of my career over the next 10-40 years. I have songs and art for sale and an RV π
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
That it is actually a business and that it is important on many levels to surround yourself with genuinely good people.