Evan V. Hankins 1952 - 2013 When I was 5 years old my daddy bought me a plastic guitar at the Golden Rule five and dime in a small town in north Mississippi. I can still clearly remember the gigantic blister I got on my thumb from strumming that thing all day long. I was hooked. I can also thank my sister Sue for getting me an electric "Silvertone" guitar as I was becoming a teenager. I had many happy hours with that thing. The late 60s found me picking up the bass. That was a real fun time in my life playing in jazz bands, rock bands, and (my favorite) soul bands. The most memorable was Blue Eyed Soul, a full ten piece band, horns and all. Not much money but we had more fun than should be legal. Early 70s found me playing in a great club band in Memphis. Dreams of a music career often subside under unrelenting refrains of get a real job. So it is, life has brought us down the roads we travel; yet, as all musicians know, the dream never ever dies and the music within always finds a way. A beautiful wife, four lovely daughters, and three grandchildren later my love for life and music is stronger than ever. I have sometimes paused but never stopped playing guitar, singing, and writing. It just works its way around everything else in my life. I suppose the majority of my music has a country flavor. My wife says that I can even make an Italian opera sound country. (That may not sound like a compliment, but I take what I can get.) One nice thing about having a real job is that I dont sweat making money trying to sell music. I can just do it because I love it! Granted, many have written great hit songs from the pangs of starvation but I prefer to be inspired when my family is safe and fed. Life is gracious and delivers all the inspiration I need as I just walk through it. Have I paid my dues? I didnt even know they were due. Recording all of my material into my home studio is slow going but I will get it done one song at a time. Do I still have a dream? Absolutely, I will see you at the Grammies some day! Hope you find something that pleases you here.