What’s the story behind your latest song/album?
There are moments in life when we all need someone to remind us…
“I’ve been there before.”
My new single, “I’ve Been There Before,” was inspired by a real conversation I had with one of my sons while we were sitting on the front porch one evening. Like so many parents, I’ve watched my children experience heartbreak, financial struggles, disappointment, and uncertainty. In that moment, I realized that sometimes the greatest gift we can give is simply sharing our own experiences and reminding them they don’t have to face life’s storms alone.
This song isn’t just about my family—it’s about all of us.
We’ve all experienced heartache.
We’ve all struggled.
We’ve all wondered if tomorrow would be better than today.
Whether you’re a parent encouraging your child, a son or daughter searching for hope, or someone simply trying to make it through another difficult season, I believe you’ll find a piece of your own story in this song.
If you’ve ever been comforted by someone’s wisdom… if you’ve ever needed someone to say, “I understand because I’ve been there too,” then this song was written for you.
How has your creative process evolved over the years?
When I first started songwriting, all I had was a cheap acoustic electric guitar, a cheap microphone and an old Tascam 4 track cassette recorder. Over the years I have taken numerous songwriting classes and workshops from Nashville Christian Songwriters, Lance Carpenter, Song Refiners, etc. Now I have a full home studio with the best tools and workstations money can buy.
Is there a specific moment in your career that felt like a turning point?
Yes, after the release of my first album, Dirt Road Diaries, I began doing live performances again after 25 years of being in the shadows. After my first concert, so many people came up and talked to me afterward and told me how good that was or you are very talented. It was just enough to give me the self-confidence I needed to continue to do what I do. Since that first concert and album, I have sold over 6500 CDs, had over 16,000 Spotify streams, featured in over three dozen magazines and have completed a handful of interviews across the globe. I’ve also been given the title by reviewers of my music as “The New Sound Of Country” for my unique traditional country conversational storytelling. While I’m nowhere near “There” yet, it certainly is a nice start and now I know there are fans out there who are hungry for that type of music.
What’s one misconception people have about being a musician?
I can give you the top five I hear all the time!
Myth 1: You have to be famous to be legitimate.
Recognition is not the measure of artistic worth. There are brilliant musicians performing in cafés and on the street, teaching in classrooms, or composing at home who move hearts every day without millions of streams. You are a musician the moment you commit to the craft, not the moment the world gives you permission.
Myth 2: You need a record deal to have a real career.
The music industry has shifted. What once required gatekeepers now often comes down to community, consistency, and creative independence. A record deal can be a tool, but it is not the only path. Some of the most fulfilled artists have carved their own way and found success on their terms.
Myth 3: You have to stick to one genre.
Some of the most compelling work happens at the intersection of styles—like jazz vocalists with gospel roots or classical musicians who write indie-folk. Your voice is your signature, and the more you explore, the more authentic it becomes. You don’t have to “pick a lane”; you just have to stay true to yourself. I love country, I love rock, I love pop and I love Christian music. You can hear all of those styles in my music.
Myth 4: You have to feel confident all the time.
Every artist battles doubt. I know I have many times! Confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it is something that gets built over time, especially in the right environment.
Myth 5: You must be “born with talent” to be a good musician.
In reality, skill comes from consistent practice, not innate genius. Many people assume that musical ability is purely genetic, which can discourage aspiring players from starting. The truth is that time and dedication trump talent. Whether you have been playing for minutes or decades, improvement comes from regular, focused practice and the willingness to put in the hours to refine your technique.
Who or what has been inspiring your music lately?
Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, and Morgan Wallen. These guys have that vocal grit, as well as that emotional, raw music feel. They put their hearts and souls into their songs and you can feel it when they sing.
Can you share a memorable or unexpected moment from a live performance?
After one of my concerts, a young little girl, who kept waving at me from the grandstand while I was singing, just came running up to me and gave me the biggest hug. She couldn’t have been no older than 6 or 7 and while I was singing, I could tell she was excited as she was just hopping, dancing and waving to me during every song. After the show when I was doing a meet and greet with everyone, is when she came and just hugged me. Her mom was with her there and said that she had gotten real sick and had been in the hospital. Her mom said that about the time that I released my song, “God is Good” she just felt a connection with it so she began playing by her daughter’s bedside every day. three days later she said the illness was gone and she had her little girl back. When her daughter and her were talking she told her that she played my song for her every day and prayed for her. She told her mom that she wanted to meet me because I was the angel that God sent to her. Her mom said ok and brought her to one of my shows. That is definitely one memory I will never forget and what a humbling experience.
How do you handle creative blocks or self-doubt?
I no longer have self-doubt; I beat that demon a long time ago. However, I do experience creative blocks all the time. If I get to the spot where I can’t get the words to a song I’m writing just right or I can’t figure out a chord progression for a song I’ve wrote, I will simply just walk away and leave it alone for a few days and then come back to it.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
If I had to pick just one, I would pick Conway Twitty who was once titled “A songs best friend.” I loved his intimate vocal style. What I mean by that is the way he would be singing and then shift to softly spoken words while pouring all his emotions and heart into the song. Over the years, I have been influenced by so many artists. For example, during my time in WV, I was emersed in country and Christian music. Artists like Conway Twitty, George Strait, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr, Oak Ridge Boys, Statler Brothers, Alabama, Kenny Rodgers, Ronnie Milsap, Steve Warnier, Earl Thomas Conley, Keith Whitley, Dan Seals, The Judds and Randy Travis were who influenced me at this time in my life. In 1986 my mom, baby sister and I moved to Georgia and for the first time in my life, I was exposed to Bon Jovi, Def Leopard, Motley Crue, Guns and Roses, Bryan Adams, Poison, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Firehouse, etc and they influenced me during the mid-80s into early 90s. Then in the 90s came Boyz II Men, Backstreet boys, Collin Raye, and all those 90s great country singers. So having been a part of all that music influence, I try to portray that in every song I write and record. I try to put my heart and emotions into like Conway would on every song. I try to tell the story like Randy Travis or George Strait would and I try to put raw grit into it like Luke Combs or Morgan Wallen would.
What I mean is that is they all poured their souls into their music and made iconic songs. That type of storytelling, as well as heartfelt and emotional vocals is what I try to duplicate with every song I write and record. For example, think about the emotions in the following songs. 1. “I Will Always Love You”-Whitney Houston 2. “Hello Darlin”-Conway Twitty 3. “Always”-Bon Jovi 4. “He Stopped Loving Her Today”-George Jones 5. “Lady”-Kenny Rodgers 6. “You Look So Good in Love”-George Strait My goal, hope and prayer for every song I sing and write is to make people feel about my song, the way they still feel about these iconic songs nearly 45 years later.
What’s a piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your career?
Writing more songs, more often than attempting to write the perfect song is more valuable. In other words, instead of spending months trying to perfect one song, write every day for an hour or two and your songwriting will get better each day. Take classes and workshops, always try to better yourself. Remember time and dedication will develop your skills.
What’s next for you—any exciting projects or goals on the horizon?
After my release of “Dirt Road Diaries” in October 2025, I seen first-hand how hard it is to get radio stations to play music for independent, unsigned artists. After meeting 100s of other independent artists and listening to their stories and the trouble they’ve had with other radio stations and with similar problems as me, I decided to do what I always do, fix the problem. So, I decided to start and launch my own Media Network called “Coalfield Country Media Network LLC” I picked the name Coalfield Country, because West Virginia is known for its coal production. CCMN will include a radio station that will only play independent artists, a magazine to showcase and help those artists develop a fanbase, a record label “Coalfield Records”, a music festival that will showcase different independent artists 3 x a year, a live show that I will invite artists to come to my studio, interview them and perform for the live show.
Also in October, I will release my third album “Chapters of My Heart.” I’m really excited about that album as I believe it is some of my best songwriting yet. Every song on there was a chapter out of my life or chapter of my heart, that I have lived personally. With this album you will see more Conway Twitty, Doug Stone and Bonjovi type vocals. I really tried to recreate that late 1980s and early 1990 sound. You will also see the launch of Coalfield Country Media Network on September 1st, 2026. I’m about 90% done in getting everything ready. Its been really tough getting all the pieces together and launched, as well as keeping up with the other two business I own, keeping music coming and promoting it and working a full-time job that keeps me busy 6 days a week 10 to 12 hrs. a day. My day starts at 2am and ends around 8pm every night.