Starting on a new journey

It's been a long time since I played my first public gig in 1993, in fact as we get older the question of quite where the time goes is never far away! So 30 years on here I am creating a new website, writing this page, and starting out again on a new musical journey.

Three generations of music. My grandfather(right) and his brother(middle), my father playing keyboards and harmonica and uncle on guitar, and myself.

Music has always been a big part of my family, with my grandfather Fred and his brother Jack both playing a variety of instruments such as fiddle, accordion and banjo. This musical DNA was in turn was passed down to Fred's children; my father and two uncles and subsequently on to me! So when I quit music in 2011 I had no idea of the detrimental effect this would have on my mental heath, something that was highlighted to me in 2023 and something that I then sought to rectify by setting up a small home musical studio using Cubase 12 as my recording software.

While I've been recording various original musical musings, the thought of returning to live performance was never far away, but 26 years after my diagnosis of Charcot Marie Tooth Disease the question of how I would cope with a 2 hour gig with weakened hands has still yet to be answered. Sadly playing guitar is no longer possible as I just can't grip a plectrum or make the shapes on the fretboard, however I have now replaced my previous Korg keyboards rig with a Roland rig and all the associated gigging paraphernalia such as a new Behringer keyboard amp. I'm now seeking live musical projects, and will shortly start work on composing music scores for local charity videos which definitely a new challenge for me!

Playing at Hachfest in 2007 with "Rumours".

As a professional, we're used to earning new material on virtually a weekly basis, so having been away for some 13 years now it's been interesting to see how quickly I returned to song learning like I'd never been away which is somewhat of a relief.

So as I bring this first blog to an end, I'm looking forward to what positives the future brings in what will be an otherwise difficult year on a personal level. Music has always been my loyal companion in life in both good times and bad, and long may it continue!

Cheers.