Its a long story.

Counter to some certain critics, YES.

Its much easier to piss off more people a whole lot quicker

Of course.

The short version:
In March of 1985, I got a guitar. My story is not unique. I started playing guitar in order to get laid. Along the way I applied my lyrical skill and found out I had a knack for songwriting. I started writing songs as soon as I learned three chords. I did this in a compulsion to record, not perform. For 7 years I worked on my playing and songwriting, and then one day I decided that I was just as good if not better than what I was hearing on the radio. I quit my job and I hoped in the truck and left town looking for places to play. This is one of the moe interesting times of my life as I was in my 20's and able to live like a vagaboun a bit easier than I could today. I chased girls, and they chased me, and it was generally a beautiful time. It was durring this time that I played some of my originals for a friend, and he got me a spot as a sideman in a country band that was touring. I needed the work, so I tagged along. It was in this band that I befriended the keyboard player and found out that he wrote as well, and was quite talented. So My best friend and I decided that we would try to write commercial Country Music songs and try to get a publishing deal. None of us wanted to actually be in a country band, but Rock singers tend to sing their own crappy songs instead of shopping the job out like country producers do.

We wrote about a dozen songs and took them to Nashville in search of a publisher. We ended up with Chealse Music and they took every song we submitted. They were, and still are great Country tunes. In the end, none of the songs made it on to any one of note's CD' but a few were covered by some up-and-comers so we were not too disappointed.

After all this pretty much faded out, I went on about my business to try and push my music. I figured out that the best way to do this would be to play it myself. So I did. I started out alone on a stage with my guitar, and then I was joined by another singer/guitar player, and then a bass player a few weeks later, and about two weeks after that I had a whole band. We decided to learn some covers to get some club work. I was initially against it but I figured that it was the best way to get my music out there. I always made sure that we played originals whenever we could.

I was writing songs faster than I could get them recorded. I did manage to record my first collection of Proper studio tracks in 1995 (Autumn Attic, NME Records). I sold out of the initial run. Since it was self-financed, I got all the profift, and I figured tat this was the way to go. About 6 months after its release I was offered a recording deal from an inependent label out of the Cincinnati area, Stork Records. I recorded a CD (Waiting For the World to End, Stork Records). It sold very well despite no budget for promotion, and continues too.

It was around this time that the band wanted to cut a CD, and since we found an investor, we put out a CD to sell at shows, and to use as a booking demo. All the songs were originals, though I only wrote or co-wrote 4 of the 6 songs. So I had money from my songwriting coming in. That's when my first marriage happened. For the next 8 years I struggled to find balance in my home and professional life. I recorded a CD Tunesmyth,TS American in 1998 Tunesmyth Unplugged, TS American in 2002 and Supernova, TS American in 2003. The whole time I was basically playing with different groups of musicians trying to find the right mix.

My mariage had ended in 2005, and I was able to find my sea legs again, and got on with the business of my music without interference from external forces. I released a CD, Cold Harbors, TS American in 2007 My finest CD yet. A tad melencholy but everyone loves a sad song.

For the past 2 years I have been relentlesly on the road playing about 200 shows a year and continuing to write. I have recently finished my new CD Bad Dreams & Good Nightmares, TS American that is due for relaease any day.

I got married to a girl I deeply love that really understands me back in November 08, and I am happy.

Acoustic artists mainly. Lots of Brit-rock, and a few yanks here and there. Many rock, and country favs. Not much of a jazz fan, but I can appriciate the talent behind all the insanity involved in playing it. NO Polka, Metal, or Hip-Hop for me though. Can't learn anything from any of them, so what's the point?

1985... and parts of 1992

acoustic guitars & voice (I play almost anything you want to name, except drums, but I only use the guitar and voice at my shows).

The struggle makes the prize that much sweeter.