My Dad

My dad always supported my music. When I wanted to start playing guitar at age 12, he went and purchased a little Phantom acoustic from the local music store. At one time years ago he had purchased a 1950s Les Paul and tried playing, but soon sold it, so I think he had a soft spot or maybe lived some of his dreams through my playing. He put me on stage for the first time in Cowpens, SC when a band was playing “House of the Rising Sun.” He had asked the guitarist if I could sit in. I was horrified, as I had only been taking lessons for about a year at the time, but got up there and faked my way through it. When I started playing in Betty Sneetch in college, he and mom would often come out to our bar shows or festivals. The same with Capital/Boxing Day. I remember us playing a festival in Charlotte where we opened for My Morning Jacket. Tickets were like $50 or something, and I look out into the sparse crowd and there’s mom and dad. I was like, “Did you guys pay $50?” Dad was like, “No, we just came through that fence over there.” LOL. They saw American Gun at a few festivals and bars, but never made it to see this last incarnation of My Only Friends Left. Dad couldn’t stay out quite as late and his health hasn’t been great.

On June 27, dad was buried and me, my brother, my sister and my wife, all played and sang at his funeral. I know he would have enjoyed it. Thanks for all the support dad. You will be missed but kept alive in our memories.