It chose me. Everybody spells it incorrectly. It's "Cheesman" not "Cheeseman."

Yes. A favorite gig was a volunteer performance for the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project's silent auction in 2008. These people are doing good work and I like to be able to donate music to a good cause. They were very appreciative, and it made me feel like my music was contributing to something bigger than myself.

There is now too much music to ever listen to it all. In some ways it's great because it empowers independent artitsts to get their stuff out in the world. In other ways it's bad. As an artist, you have to be careful about getting sucked into the internet instead of spending time making music. And let's face it, there is a lot of really uninteresting, gimmicky stuff out there as well. As a listener, you have to be careful about wasting too much time sorting through very lazy and uninspired music. But, in general, I'd say the internet is a good thing. Lots of folks are making homemade music, and you can find some real gems out there. I admire a lot of muscians who aren't making any money or garnering any fame. They're just making great music.

Sure.

Been playing guitar since age twelve. Took classes and then taught at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Released three albums as of October 2009. The last, Campfire, received significant airplay of public and community radio around the country and received a very favorable review in SING OUT! magazine.

The Beatles and a lot of folk music. Lately I'd say Jackson Browne and the Indigo Girls represent my "gold standard" artists. Jackson Browne especially amazes me. I can't think of a bad song he's put out into the world, and some of his songs are probably among the best pop/rock/folk tunes ever. I really like music in every genre. Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Aaron Copeland, Jimi Hendrix, Jack Johnson... you name it!

Anywhere there is wilderness. Zion National Park, Yellowstone, Glacier, etc.., New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago are amazing cities. Martannes Burrito Palace is my favorite diner.

Bourgeois, Martin, and Guild guitars. My hands, voice, ears, brain, heart, and soul.

A lot of people say there is no new "folk" music. That's complete BS. It's everywhere. But the new folk needs to be more than angry protest music. People in this country need to start getting together and working out their differences, and I believe our new folk music needs to address that. We need good art, music, and literature a lot more than we need all these miserable television pundits. They'll divide us. Music - especially great songs - can help pull us back together. Folk music is about community. Seems like this internet thing could be a good tool in that sense.