I was born in Baytown,TX on Dec.5th 1977, to my mother Patricia Ann Bates and to a father who didn't care enough to hang around. I grew up in Valdosta,Ga where I was a member of several car clubs ,and the school band ( my very first taste of playing music)
Then one day I get tired of Valdosta,so I set out on my own. I moved to Washington, D.C. to live with friends.I waited tables at a mexican resturant,not making any money.
The old saying "company is like fish,after three days they start to smell" went into effect. After 30 days I was asked to leave,with no where to go ,(you would be surprised how much weight you can lose in 30 days) So instead of calling my parents and admitting defeat I called my grandmother to see if I could live with her .
She said I could so I told her that I would save my money to come home on and be home the following week . She told my to have my butt at the Western Union place at 7:00am (they didn't open until 9:00am) so to keep from missing the bus ,I was there,standing in the snow.Twenty-three hours later I was in Jackson,MS, that was the most beautiful place I had ever seen.My grandmother swore that I had a tape worm because that was the smallest I had ever been.
I was home two days before I got a job at an auto parts warehouse.I worked there three days ,when I met this slender guy named Jason Berryhill. He was wanting to go out and was taking me too. We went to a town by the name of Hazelhurst to pick up a guy named Harley (Brandon). When we arrived in Jackson to hang out we talked all night .We have been friends ever since.
Then five years later I move back to Jackson to find a big blond guy is hanging with my old crew , so I ease up to check this guy out. As it all turned out WE turned out to be the best of friends,God never gave me a brother ,he gave me the next best things ,Brandon,Jason,and Mikey.
We all owe the first step to Jason. He believed that we could do it so he stuck his neck out .But we did it! We had to play Sweet Home Alabama 2million times before we grasped the concept. Now if we get tired of playing someone else , we make our own. Thats the coolest feeling.
I want to thank the guys for always being there. Aaron ,Cristy,kids,Jason,Brandon,Mikey,Mom,and Rachel for sitting through endless hours of practice.