Hello from the panhandle of Florida and welcome to the sketch pad of my songwriting. You can download any of my songs for FREE as my gift to you. I wrote them, played the instruments, did the vocals and recorded them in my 3 foot by 3 foot studio (my computer desk) so if you like any song then feel free to make a copy! I have lived in Navarre Florida since 1983 but my love affair with music started out in Painesville,Ohio when I was around 8 years old. I listened to music before but that year I received a small AM transistor radio for my birthday. I'd put it under my pillow at night so my parents couldn't hear it and listen to a Motown music station out of Detroit. I'd ride into town on my bicycle to buy the Beatles latest 45 when I was 10. The first time I heard the blues it grabbed me emotionally and the BLUES is still my favorite music to play. I started out playing drums, picked up a harmonica in high school and started teaching myself to play guitar when I was 24 with the help of a Neil Young book and the "Harvest" album. I played nothing but accoustic for the first 5 years,mostly Neil Young songs. I bought my first electric guitar when I was 29 and started teaching myself lead by playing along with records. I'd play 6-8 hours a day and never missed a day without playing for the first 20 years. In the last 10 years I find myself playing less and less.I go months at a time without playing now (which I never thought would happen). 35 years of working with my hands has taken it's toll and I play only when my hands let me now. I started writing songs 30 years ago but never had a good way to record them until my son taught me how to do it on the computer. The mix on most of them isn't the greatest because of my lack of experience and the fact that I use cheap headphones to monitor my recordings. I can't sing that good, my guitar skills have deteriorated because of my hands, I'm not a bass player or a producer but it is so satisfying to record my own songs and play all the instruments (except drum machine) myself. I was really fortunate to find this site and be able to have other people give me feedback on my music. My music comes from the soul so if it reaches anyones ears and they like it then I feel happy and appreciative that they took the time to listen. I have so many songs and I will try to record more when I can. Thanks for your time, Craig Scott Manninen