.... And Away We Go

Greetings all!

Ya know, setting up all of the different internet promotion opportunities and getting them to all function together and look nice is a lot more work than I ever expected.  I think I have even set up a way to blog, enter new status updates on twitter, myspace, youtube, facebook, and who know what else with my phone.  Hopefully if all this works I can keep you all updated and actually have a good time doing it.  lol  what a concept.  Even pictures from my phone can be posted here so watch out.  Who knows what random excitement you will find when reading my blogs.

One of the purposes I have for creating this blog is to document the journey of an independent artist through the industry.  However, my life is so much more than that.  I am a single, divorced, father of two beautiful kids, a struggling yet content musician, studio engineer, song writer, programmer, and Christian.  So many aspects of our lives directly effect what we are able to do, want to do, and think we either can or can't do.  I would like to be as honest as possible in these blogs in order to show the triumphs, let downs, complications, and true miracles of God in my life.  did I mention that I am also legally blind and have a rare condition called albinism?  let us add that to our list of things we can discuss.

I have always been very closed about my condition.  As a child I was picked on and beat up a great deal for being different from everyone els.  Throughout my life the struggle of not allowing my defect to define how I lived my life has always been important to me.  In fact, a lot of people are not even aware of it until they see me lean in close to read something or realize that I do not drive.  My nickname, "snowman", even sprung out of an attempt to regard myself as something special rather than as someone hindered by a disability.  Mr. Catrell Wrenn, a fantastic trumpet player and my junior high school band director gave me the nickname when I was in eighth grade.  He had formed a little jazz group that played around the community and various school functions, and it was mandatory for each member to have a nickname.  He allowed everyone to pick theirs except me.  Mr. Wrenn had always been aware of my difficulties with other kids, and he decided that my inability to handle the harassment was at an end.  The choice of the word "snowman" stemmed from the simple fact that one of the most commonly used names kids called me was frosty the snowman.  He thought that by taking something that was used to define me in a negative light would have more power to help define me in a positive way.  We all know the entertainment industry is heavily rooted in image and branding.  Well, he was right.  I have a great look that is very unique, even in the music industry.  The nickname has really become a part of my musical persona as much as my playing style has.  Now, it is not as though I am reliant on my nickname or anything, but it helps remind me about where i came from and who I have always been deep inside.  I am not defined by a disability or a name.  I am defined by God and what he has created.  I am proud and honored to look like I do, and the limitations imposed from my condition are minor inconveniences more than a definition of my potential.  Thank you Lord for my life, the ability to love, to perform music, and to see beyond the natural limitations of the body.  thank you for your love, blessing of life and joy, and I am nothing except what you have created within me.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!!  Blessings to you all, and I can't wait to blog more.


snowman