Thank you so much for chatting with us! What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about pursuing a career in music? When my new father-in-law asked me what I wanted to be. I told him I wanted to be a writer...maybe a journalist, a novelist or a songwriter. Maybe an actor or director. Maybe a playwright like Sam Shepard or Neil Simon. He told me to pick one- just one of them- and focus all my energy on that one thing. He said, "when sunlight is focused through a magnifying glass, it will always start a fire."
Looking back, what was the first album or “vinyl” you bought? It was Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" in a music shop in Rhinebeck, New York. I immediately started learning "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Birds," "Southern Man," along with "After the Gold Rush." I'm still a big Neil Young fan.
If you could have penned a song in any genre what would it have been? Ha! "On The Street Where You Live," from My Fair Lady.
What is one thing you can tell us that most people don’t know about you and might surprise us? I lived out of my car, then in the woods for a while. I told my kids that I was a 'nomadic man about town.' My son said, "So you were homeless." Lol.
What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? I was an unknown, unsigned writer when I got to Nashville. I went to see Allen Shamblin ("I Can't Make You Love Me," "The House That Built Me") in a writer's round at the Bluebird Cafe. He was kind enough to offer some advice. He said write every day, all day, because a lot of writers take 3 to 4 hour lunch breaks and skip writing every day. That got me to treat writing like when I used to frame houses. I found my old 24 ounce framing hammer, put it on my desk as a reminder of hard work, and then I'd sit in a chair with my guitar - six days a week, sometimes seven, 10 hour days, then lay some tracks into the night at my friend's home studio. It paid off. I had my first hit in a year and a half.
Best food that comes in can? King Oscar Wild Caught Sardines, Mediterranean Style.
Home cooking or going out for dinner? Well, I'm married to a Sicilian, so I'm partial to her cooking. Not only is she beautiful but her baked ziti, lasagna, and spaghetti and meatballs are the best, and she could open a restaurant with her fish tacos. My dad's family are all from the south so I love cornbread but I would put my wife's cornbread up against any of my relatives.
What is the best dish you ever had? When I was in the military, three friends and I went camping along the Big Thompson River near Estes Park, Colorado. We'd get up early to fly fish. We caught these beautiful rainbow trout that we cleaned and grilled right there over our campfire, along with a pan of scrambled eggs. To this day I can still remember the sweet taste of that trout, with the campfire coffee and eggs.
What’s on your pizza? Do you fold your pizza or eat it straight on? Ranch or no ranch? Extra cheese. Coming from New York, I love pizza, and if it's thin crust I fold it. Every town back home has a family owned pizza parlor, like La Bella's in Kinderhook, NY. Ask for Tony.
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? That's a tough one. I've given up soda and haven't had hard liquor in a long time...just coffee, tea and water. But I remember what it's like to wish I had a hot meal and I like this company, The Soulful Project. They make delicious, hearty cup packs of hot cereal with oats, grains and fruit, and for every one sold, they give one to a local food bank they're partnered with around the country.
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