Grandfather (Harold Bishop) played country acoustic Guitar & sang (identical to Ernest Tubb).
Taught by grandfather how to play guitar at age 6.
Joined first band, The Rhythm Masters, at age 7. This had been a semi-popular local band started in the 60's by guitarist Les Taylor and bassist Jamie "Buddy" Pollard. We played mostly old 50's-70's country music with the occasional 50's-60's rock tune thrown in here or there. The two kept the band going through many incarnations up until the mid 90's when they decided to play bluegrass music at fairs and music barns around the area instead of trying to keep a country band together. I learned an invaluable amount of country lead guitar licks from Les who had this amazing double cutaway Les Paul. One of those super-hard-to-find models from the first years of production. (I forget the exact model though it was rosewood colored).
I played acoustic guitar, (mainly rhythm though an occasional lead) fiddle, bass & mandolin with this group. Jamie, the bass player, would occasionally show off his bluegrass side and play some mandolin with Les' fiddle, therefore giving me the opportunity to learn bass guitar.
Started drumming when I turned 13. The Rhythm Masters never could find a permanent drummer, so I played on a couple of tunes during several occasions just for fun. I really wish I'd stuck at it and taken an interest in drumming back then, but I didn't at all until several years later. I finally got a kit of my own right before I bought my first 4-track in 1997.
Played with them until age 13, started Sidekicks with Ross DeBono (guitar/vox) Derek DeBono (drums) and Bob & Dawn Brady (husband & wife singers from the Rhythm Masters). This was the first opportunity I had to play electric lead guitar. I didn't even *have* an electric when we started this! I played Bob's 25th Anniversary Les Paul Deluxe (nice collector's item though it had a gruesome sound) through his Twin Reverb until I saved enough money to buy my own Strat and Twin after about 4 months.
Band broke up after 1 year, started Fergusson Caine with Ross & Derek, as well as Chris Hurd (bass/vox/guitar).
Played as The Cedar Grove Anarchists (fake band name---actually we didn't even have one) at infamous Cedar Grove Lakes on several different occasions.
Joined the Dixie Rebels playing good ol fashioned, foot stompin, yet extremely quiet country music with Elvis impersonator, H.L "Hairy" Kennedy 1994-1995. This was the first time I'd ever sang before. Until that point, it had been my "trademark" not to sing. I was terribly shy and it took me forever to be able to sing in front of any of my family. (until 1998!) I sang background vocals to lead singer, H.L and even got to sing a few of my own songs...as long as they weren't, "too rock n roll for the old people."
The Dixie Rebels mainly played local music barns, (yes "barns" not "bars") fairs and other types of small outdoor events. Usually non-paying gigs and rightfully so. Though Johnny Miller, the steel and other lead guitarist, has got to be one of the best I've ever heard and still a great influence on my country "chicken pickin."
Started "JJ Cox & Wounded Heart" with JJ Cox (age 15) from Griffin, GA in late 1995. We mainly did the "barn tours" on a higher scale as well as fairs, beauty pagents, TV remotes and even graduated to removing the "n" and playing a few "bar" gigs here and there. We recorded a 12 song demo at Fireside Studio in Nashville, Tennessee which even allowed me to sing some songs in a studio setting and opened up for country boozer Waylon Jennings at the Peachtree City Amphitheater in September of 1996.
After leaving the group, I started my own project, Southbound which went nowhere though we did get a few leftover gigs that JJ had booked but was unable to perform at because the group had since disbanded. These included 2 performances for the 1996 Olympic Games torch relay in Atlanta & Griffin, Georgia as well as an Olympic Celebration festival at the Griffin City Park.
Rejoined Dixie Rebels under the alias, "Duane Allman." 1996 (????).
Joined The Gentrys (Later renamed Bill Gentry & The 35 Cent Rodeo) in 1997. Recorded independent CD at Excocet Studios-Atlanta in 1998. Played with country star Neal McCoy, and several other "close encounters" during my spell in this band. We played a variety of clubs, outdoor events, fairs, fundraisers and corporate parties before becoming the house band at the second largest country dance club in Georgia, the Wildhorse in 1999/2000. The band was voted #1 country band in GA during my 2000 time in the band by voters in the MACMC (Metro Atlanta Country Music Club) online survey. www.macmc.net
Also played bass with Bill Gentry (filling in) on several occasions.
Have been recording at home since 1997 as, COWBOY CHIPS & THE RED ROOSTER RODEO ROUNDUP
Rejoined Bill Gentry & The 35 Cent Rodeo in Fall of 2002. For a current band line-up click here.