A sampling of questions asked and my responses:

When did your passion for music begin?

In 9th grade I heard music from two different genres. Each affected me deeply. First, the radio played The Kingston Trio’s, “Tom Dooley,” (three verses and the chorus four times). Something about and harmonies and the instruments moved me. Harry Belafonte recorded “Jamaica Farewell,” and “Island in the Sun.” Again, I felt the power of lyrics as story this time set to the beat of calypso. I’d never been exposed to folk music in the traditional sense, but this growing “urban” folk of acoustic instruments, focus on story-telling, and catchy melodies touched me.

The second influence came from vinyl LP’s of show tunes. I don’t remember how these came to me, but once they did my sensibilities were hooked on Broadway musicals like “Oklahoma,” and “The King and I,” that became Broadway films followed by “South Pacific,” “West Side Story from 1956 onward

How did the instruments come into your life?

My first guitar came from Montgomery Wards. The Kay guitar company produced basically the same guitars with different names for different stores. The guitars sold at Wards were labeled Airline, and mom bought one for me. It cost $10.95. The Ward’s catalog description was: “Economy Beginner’s Special. Good Tone and Construction. Fall General Catalog, page 907. Mailable.” The strings rose so high above the fret board, I could stick my fingers under them. After months of frustration I switched to a baritone ukulele. Four strings and close to the fingerboard made playing markedly easier. Over the years I owned many guitars, too many. Most had nylon strings whether classical or flamenco in style.

A few years ago a Hawaiian company created a hybrid between an ukulele and guitar they named a guilele. The instrument is tuned like a guitar except that the 5th and 6th string are tuned an octave lower than a guitar. I use it now as a compliment to the guitar.

In elementary school, the band teacher pointed me out to play flute for the required music class. I played in the band class for a year or two gave it up for football. In my early 40-s and took it up again with lessons from excellent flutist who teaches at the University of Wyoming.

How did you learn to play?

I mentioned playing the flute began early on. In elementary school the band teacher taught all the instruments. I don’t know how she did it, but every now and then she sidle up to the woodwinds explain the fingering, embouchure, and somehow how the rudiments of reading music. Later, most of the boys in the band were induced to join the The Mile High Boy’s Band. It cost to play in the band, and it cost for private lessons, which were required and taught by the assistant band director at an additional cost.

I lasted less than a year. The teacher became so frustrated with me that he quipped in my mother’s presence that, “He doesn’t have enough sense to cross Broadway (the Denver main street) by himself.” Thankfully, mom pulled me out and that was the end of flute playing for 30 years. When I picked it up again I took lessons from Rod Garnett, then a graduate student at the University of Colorado, now a music professor at the University of Wyoming. He tightened up my loosened music reading skills, and introduced me to classical music. But I wanted to learn jazz and he was an ace. I haven’t taken flute lesson since then.

I started out on guitar like most of us did with a book of chords and songs to go with them like “Red River Valley,” “Polly Wolly Doodle All the Day,” and “She’ll Coming‘Round the Mountain.” Not exactly appealing tunes, but neither were they copyrighted. Guitar beginners today start with modified pop songs, play along CD’s, or a huge collection of You Tube instructional videos——-much better motivator than “The Bear Came Over the Mountain.”

I’ve took classical guitar lessons from Nina Rockley, Ken Johnson (classical and jazz), and flamenco Rene Heredia. For the past 25-years I’ve taken what I’ve learned and figured out my own style. I’ve been asked many times if I give guitar lessons and I’ve responded, “I have no idea how to teach you what I do.” Sometimes I don’t know how I came to play the way I play.

What genre of music to you play?

I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s one genre, though a recent promotion of a new CD, “Who I Am,” promoted me as “contemporary folk.” I started with songs from Peter, Paul, and Mary, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins and the rest. Then I became enamored of Bossa Nova, added show tunes, some jazz standards, and orininal songs. Audiences say my music is mellow, easy to listen of——old favorites, and freshly minted ones.

I’ve been a solo performer for a long time and have been able to wiggle around in several styles that fit my abilities and spark my interest. Over the years I have found that covering a song with a compelling arrangement gratifies me almost as much writing my own songs, almost, but not quite.

What are your musical goals?

First, to keep singing and playing for as long as I can. It has always been my desire to bring a measure of gladness to listeners. I do my best to touch the heart.

During my career I’ve added and deleted many songs, and likewise, I’ve added instruments that I later rejected. I’m at a place now where I musically get to do what I want to do. For better or worse, I’m not a music student anymore. I play what I want and how I want to, and love that freedom.