Almost 50 years ago I got my first decent guitar. I have been "picking up a storm" ever since. I loved every kind of music even as a child. Still do love most of 'em.

Can't exactly remember the first but I saw The Buckinghams, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, and also Paul Revere and The Raiders in the late 1960s at the Township in Columbia, SC. However, I did get to see Jimi Hendrix live at the 2nd Atlanta Pop Festival AND Janis Jopliin in Charlotte, NC AND Duane Allman (with The Allman Brothers) two times before he died (once as a headliner and once as an opening act for Johnny Winter And [with Rick Derringer]). Great memories. . .

Oh my. . . My main acoustic guitar is a Taylor 416ce, but I also play an irreplaceable old Gibson J-45 and a 1972 model Rosewood Yamaha FG-300. My electrics include a 1960s model Gibson ES-335, a vintage Fender Telecaster and two Strats that were built for me to my specifications (one with Gibson P-90 pickups!) I also have two wonderful classical guitars and an old Hagstrom Bass guitar. In addition, I have a Kentucky F-style mandolin and a magnificent Master Works Hammer Dulcimer (thanks, Mom!). I use a combination of guitar amps: a black face (pre-CBS) Fender Super Reverb, a silver face Fender Bassman head with a 4X12 Marshall cab, and a Fender Blues Junior. There a LOTS of other various and sundry items lurking around my studio.

Probably the Beatles because I love chords and cool beats. They had it ALL! Great harmonies, you name it. I was sitting in front of my TV the first time they ever came on The Ed Sullivan show. Never been the same. However, my first musical influence was my uncle, Bill Jolly. He was in a guitar/banjo duo with Earl Scruggs before Earl headed to Nashville. My uncle didn't want to go, even though Earl tried to convince him. Uncle Bill told me the next time he saw Earl was when he came back to visit "driving a big old Cadillac!"

I'm in a One Man Band right now. I write and submit songs for sale through TAXI music - an independent A&R company who lets their members know who is looking for music and what kind of music they're looking for and then gets it to them for you (if your stuff is good enough). I am also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. I send them my songs for possible inclusion for their regular "Pitch to Publisher" luncheons.
I also play regularly in my church in Chapin, SC.

I have a dream about jamming with Daniel Lanois. He is a musician's musician. He is a master of atmospheric sounds in the studio. One-Of-A-Kind. I would also love to toss it around with Phil Keaggy. I admire him alot.

I have played to some pretty large audiences at outdoor festivals and opening up for other bands (who had a bigger following than my band did) like the Swimming Pool Qs (out of Atlanta). Probably the largest club audience I played to when my band was the headliner was our first gig as Nylon Mustang at the Beat in Columbia, SC. The club only held 285 or so but for our gig they oversold for standing room only. I think the actual ticket sales were about 550. People were standing all the way down the stairwell outside the club to sneak a peak and listen. That was back in the mid 1980s. We broke the club's attendance record. Glad the fire marshal didn't show up that night! ;-)

Although I really I do dig Rain Dogs by Tom Waits, it would probably have to be For The Beauty of Wynona by Daniel Lanois. Tough question - it could also be any Beatle album 1965 or later, many various Bob Dylan albums, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Layla.... just too tough to pick one.