I'll Be Back

Hi gang, I know that everyone has been wondering where I am and where I've been.
All I can tell you is that I've been sick and that I had to take this time off for now. I am getting better though, slowly but surely.
For the rest of the year I will be in hiatus, but starting in January I will be returning to you...
For now please enjoy the rest of '08, and I'll be back in '09.
I've got loads of things to share with you, new stories, new experiences,and new dreams.
So...stay tuned.
Until then...

Support Live music today tomorrow and always...

Finding Me Again

If I've learned nothing else in life, I've learned that it is vastly important to find out who you are.

As an artist, as a soul, and and as a human being, knowing the person inside of you is necessary to help the person on the outside of you function in your chosen way of life.

It can be something small and miniscule, or it can be large and grandiose, but labor hard and long to find that entity that is you.
I know that most of you who read me have been wondering where I've been. All I can say to that is that I've missed you as much as you've missed me, and although I've been around, I haven't been able to find me for a little while.
My health has been pretty good, but my mental health has been a bit shaky of late. It's been a combination of a few things. Mostly missing my parents and my sister (they're deseceased, for those of you that didn't know...). My younger sister is in the US Navy, and right now, she's stationed in Japan, and I worry constantly about her (although she is doing quite well in fact...)
The crux of my troubles have been that I've been feeling rather insignificant as a musician, and couldn't seem to find my groove.
The last 4 months or so, I've been showing up to play, but my soul wasn't along for the ride. I actually felt that maybe my time was up as a musician, and that it was time to put away my mic, and my sax for good.
On Friday I had a gig with one of my dearest friends, bluesman Terry Lowry, and I just agonized about my playing, and although most in attendance said to my face, how great I sounded, it was as if I didn't hear a sound...from me, or them.
Last night I had a gig with the Carpenter Ants, and I intitially thought that I would be an absolute flop, but a little, subtle change made all the difference... I CHANGED REEDS !!!

Charlie Tee, what in the world are you talking about?
For the last 5 months, I've used the same reed on my saxophone, and the truth is, that it died ages ago, and I should have realized right away that the reason that I wasn't getting my sound was that I should have broken out a new reed awhile ago. Instead, I've felt terribly about myself thinking erroneously that I've lost my ability to play.
Another thing is that I have trouble relaxing and going with the flow. If you know baseball at all, you can relate... I was in a slump.
Your mind can play terrible tricks on you if you're not careful, it can cause you see things that aren' t there. I'm not especially good at sitting around and waiting to play. I feel as though I lose my edge to entertain when I have to sit around and wait. I prefer to be as spontaneous as possible when I have to perform, the less sleep, or waiting that I have causes me to think
inside and outside of the box, and I've always felt that that has made me the person I am as an entertainer, I seem to think better on my feet when I go in seemingly without rest, and just able to come off the cuff.
If you're following this sequence so far, I'm sure that you're laughing at me out loud. I get so silly with this, that at times I feel as though I could run and hide from everyone, and I actually cower away from folks.
I know that this is in fact crazy, but hey, that's me and how I operate...warts and all.
Sometimes finding me again takes some work, but at least I'm honest about it, and I hope that when you or "Stella" need to find your groove again, its something as simple as making a needed change within yourself. You'll be much happier that you did.
See ya soon.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always. Let it help you find your essence.

Great Minds

I ran into an ex- in law early this morning, and was quite suprised to see that he had fallen on some fairly hard times. His health has become very poor in fact.
While I had the strong urge to rub in his face how he used to treat me, I decided that it would be more civil of me to leave things as they are, and also offer him my help to his vehicle after our respective appointments.
During the days when we were relatives, quite often I had heard how much he bad-mouthed me behind my back (...and at some point, even to my face). Although this angered me often, I told those who would tell me these things that I would be bigger than that, and not stoop to his level by countering his attacks.
Often I would say that "I'll let God take care of it," and he would get his one day. "
It was quite sad, I never measured up to him or his family, and even though he never once sat down and talked to me to determine the type of person I am, he judged me anyway.
A phrase came to my mind when I saw him today: Life is designed to teach you what you should have learned in life.
You see, I could have easily let him get me down all those years ago,yet, I kept my head held high, I continued playing music ( I now have 4 CD's to my credit) I still have a wonderful job (in which I'm a supervisor...), I'm married 10 years (...and counting) I still have the love and respect of my true friends (counting there too !!!), and most of all, I'm still keeping my eyes on the prize.
Now I look at him and realize that I can sleep at night because I'm not haunted by how viciously I've treated people.
More importantly I have come to truly realize that great minds have aims,while little minds have wishes.
None the less I wish him good health.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

The Sum of My Parts

Every musician has people who they look up to for inspiration (devine, or otherwise), that gives their music some substance with which to build a career (my gosh that was a mouthful...).
Most folks who know me know that among mine are people like saxophonist David Sanborn, and the late Michael Brecker (Tenor saxophone).
I want to talk about some of my other influences, because it's important that you understand the core and soul of my music. Moreover, the thoughts that I put together when I sing, or play my own saxophone is a direct result of the influences that these people have in my life.
Vonda Shepard is a vocalist, pianist and writer of some incredible music. When she sings, it give me chills. The way that she uses her voice just excites me like Christmas, and my birthday all in one.
Patrice Rushen is another, and a forerunner to people like Vonda who grooves so hard that you'd be considered dead if you didn't get moved by her music.
The late great Richard Tee was a brilliant session musician and arranger who graced countless recordings, and he to me was the Fender Rhodes "Jedi Master."
These are just a scant few of the folks who have made the music in me come alive, and I speak about them because more often than not everyone needs inspiration.
Having something to aspire to is always a good thing because it keeps you focused, and more inportantly, it keeps you in check.
I remember the very first time that I met Richard Tee in person was on the subway in Manhattan. I spotted him on Columbus Circle and 66th street. I just walked up to him and told him how much I admired his playing. I just happened to have my sax with me that day (lucky me...), and he was so nice in fact that he invited me to hear him do a commercial that he was on his way to do.
At the studio, we talked for awhile while the engineers were setting up, and I told him that I was going to Manhattan School of Music, and he thought that that was a great idea. He said that "back in the day alot of folks thought that only the stuffed shirts went to music schools, you either got educated on the bandstand or you listened in the audience, and truly many "brothers" never saw the inside of a school let alone one for music." None the less that feeling started to change when people like Wynton (Marsalis) came along. Now we realize how useful schools really are for us.
In truth though, I still feel that the sum of my parts have equalled out because I've been educated in 2 realms; Manhattan School of Music and also "Bandstand University," and my professors have really given me that benefit of the finest education.
I hope that I continue to make them proud.
Life offers many opportunities to further oneself in every field, take advantage of possibilities whenever you can, and make the sum of your parts equal one great person...you.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

Caroleigh, Jill and Lauren, the rhythm of my Sisters

Caroleigh Cheryl- January 25th
Janus Ingrid- January 11th
Lauren Patrice- March 30th

Those are dates that are forever etched on my mind because those are the days that the rhythm of my life always beats strongest...with love.
My 3 Sisters have made my life worthwhile, let me tell you about how they each have affected my life and my music.
Caroleigh (pronounced,carol-lay)
My oldest Sister, was a gifted musician and singer, she played the flute and the violin, and she had a voice like an angel. Caroleigh loved all types of music, but 50's rock and roll just moved her to no end. James Brown and Jackie Wilson would just send her into orbit. Years later when Motown emerged as a force in music she was a fanatic for the Temptations.
They did a song called "Don't Look Back," and Caroleigh would be the female backup singer to Paul Williams vocal...it still moves me to tears when I hear, because it makes me think about my Sis.
Jill the other older Sister is also a gifted pianist, and just a brilliant woman who has always been ahead of her time. She was the first person to graduate from Columbia University with a degree in African American studies. Also, she is the founder and CEO of Backpax, a company which teaches cultural diversity to youngters.
Lauren, the youngest of us is also a musician, she played the clarinet. In High school she was in the concert orchestra and the jazz band, and was first chair in both.
She has now made a career in the United States Navy, recently deployed to Bahrain (north of Saudi Arabia), where she just became a Chief Petty Officer.
My 3 Sisters are among the most beautiful woman that I've ever known, but our lives have taken us to many different stations in life, and it has taken losing one of them to make me realize just how much they all have meant to me.
If you ever listen to a really good drummer, you realize right away that they capture alot of different rhythms at once, yet drummers are the foundation upon which great music is made. All of the beats that they create add to or blend the other instruments and vocals together into a harmony that can move the even the steadfast of folks, so it is with my Sisters.
Their lives are entertwined with mine and it has made me a better person. Each of what they have given me in love has shaped my life in ways that is just like listening to music.
I love songs, singing them, as well as playing them, because the textures that they create with words offer you a glimpse into the soul of the writer.
Musicians bring about the effect of the songs, but the the writer created it to set a mood. So it is with my Sisters, when we talk it's really uplifting and passionate. Sometimes, even without alot of words being expressed, they set a tone for me that reaches deep inside of me.
When I was little, I used to watch Caroleigh play the flute for hours at a time, ask a million questions, and be generally in awe of her. When I'd listen to Jill (Janus's nickname), she just epitomized grace and charm...she still does.
When I went to see Lauren in concert in her senior year in school. I was awestruck by how much I didn't know about music, she did some things on the clarinet that I'm still trying to figure out with my saxophone.
The point here is that within the rhythm of my sisters beats a strength that gives me strength, it's also given me the clarity to be a good musician, and vocalist. They've taught me to take chances with my music, set it free, but tame it all at once.
In short, the love they've given me, I've passed it forward to my audience, and if you play music that's how you should operate too.

This post is dedicated to eveyone who has the pleasure of having a lovingly family,who supports, and believes in them.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

Remembering Winston Walls

There aren't too many people that I can honestly say are larger than life, but Winston was truly among those that I could. He is up there with my Parents.
It's with a sad heart that I must relay that the great Winston Walls has left our lives. I'm told that he passed away in his sleep at his home in Florida with his wife Lucille at his side.

Winston for most of the musicians in the Kanawha valley was like our Dad. He was tough, but ever encouraging. He could make you feel your music like no one else, he just had that thing in him that set him apart from everyone else.
I can still remember vividly the day that I met him back in 1971, he just moved my soul with his playing. He was confident and he knew how to GRAB your attention. When he played that Hammond B3, he could not only bend his notes, he could break them like twigs, or make them and you, stand at attention.
He has shown me and my bandmates in the Carpenter Ants how to capture an audience, with real musicianship and not with gimmicks.
Once when we were recording our 2nd CD "Picnic With Lord," he cleared up a discrepency with us that completely changed our direction. His help with our CD became invaluable for me especially, because he made sing from my soul.
There will never be another like "Dad" for me, but I can say with distinction that we are all his sons and daughters, and in his memory we will raise West Virginia music to new heights.Winston, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you taught me. I will never forget you. Heaven will really rock now!! Rest in peace.

Be certain to pick up his CD "Boss of the B3," which features another great, his best friend Brother Jack Mc Duff, where ever you find great music. Also Winston is our special guest the Carpenter Ants CD "Picnic With the Lord."



Good night Brother
Winston Walls 2008.

Just Say No

It's embarrassing for me to tell you this, but I got my head handed to me the other evening, and rightfully so, I was just plain wrong about my actions, and I deserved to be reprimanded.
The scene: Friday night at the former Blues BBQ Restaurant and nightclub. The event, a combination of 2 birthday celebrations. Mine and a good friend. Also, the Carpenter Ants were performing.
Prior to starting we had to wait and start playing a little bit later than usual because Michael Lipton (fearless leader...) had a prior performance with the Mountain Stage Band.
Anyway, I was sitting with my friends, and there was a gentleman seated at the table near ours, and he was not your average looking fella (now putting it nicely...), sort of non-descript, but he also had on some very thick glasses.
Now, I should have known better, but one of my friends started to comment among us about the gentleman, and we in turn started laughing uncontrollably, to the point that I'm certain that it must have made this guy seriously uncomfortable. Well, he ups and leaves and never returned. The sad part about it is that I know he was there exclusively to see the band, and here we were making fun.
It didn't matter that it wasn't to his face, but I know he must have sensed it.
My dear friend Amy, who planned this party down to the letter, was greatly insensed. She held back her comments that evening and thereby not spoiling my day, but in true fact, she have every right to. When she called me the next night, she was still angry, and after she read me the riot act, I felt 2 inches tall...She was as right as right could be. HOW FREAKIN' DARE US. What in the Hell makes us God's gift.
I of all people should have known how hurtful that must have been, because I'm overweight, and have been teased one way or another about it all of my life, and although I've developed thicker skin about it, it still hurts none the less when people are so blatant about pointing it out.
Thank God Amy had the presence of mind to just say no. She and many other people have gone out of their way to help not only me, but my band as well to further ourselves in the public eyes, and doing the things that we did Friday causes that wall to be built higher...and believe me, that ain't good.
I want to say publicly that I'm deeply sorry for offending that young man, intended, or not.
I also want to say thank you to Amy for being a true friend, and pointing out my shortcomings, she is the kind of people that everyone needs in their life...SOMEONE REAL.



Just say no to abuse of any kind, but support live music today tomorrow and always.