I started on piano when I seven. I took lessons from Marty Sweet from 1959 -1961, she was the instructor at Beloit College. Got my first Gibson acoustic guitar for Christmas in 1965. My first time performing on guitar and singing was in an assembly at Roosevelt Junior High doing Peter, Paul and Mary songs with Bob Van Oss and Dick Guelzow. I soon joined their band THE BITTER END as singer / frontman in early 1966, picked up a Farfisa Mini Compact and was playing keys too, eventually worked in the guitar as well. Played some keys in NightOwl and Sleeper '79 - '83 but really have been a guitarist most of my life. I play guitar because I can't sing as well as I wish. I've been writing songs for over 40 years. I don't write as much as I would like, but I do continue to write. I've been fortunate to play with some of the most talented and interesting musicians in our area over the years. I am as passionate about performance as I was when I was nineteen. I have only recorded one CD. Nap Daddy is the name of the project and the name of the record is Average Day. My son Todd Michael Goodwin is our primary vocalist. It is available on CD Baby and I-Tunes [ i think so anyway]. I've been in a million bands over the years. These days I do occasional Nap Daddy shows with Todd...just me on guitar...with both of us singing original music. We have a great little 4-piece called THE HUCKSTERS ....Dave Hernandez [Tramp] on keys, Tim Walter [NightOwl] on bass, and Pat Betts on kit. I've been a part of the local blues scene for the last 8 years helping out with Glenn Davis and David Keith Potter. The good folks from Charlotte's Web and The Crossroads Blues Society have been kind enough to include me in some festivals and shows. Michael John McKearn has been my close friend, mentor, teacher, collaborator, counselor, sound board, loving critic, and linchpin to many of my best life/musical connections. Working the road with Big Mac in NightOwl, Sleeper, Tug Mumbo, and Somo Mojo took me to more places, great shows, and some of the best friends I have. I met my best friend and wife, Anne, 30 years ago with NightOwl. He is an undeniable frontman, singer, songwriter/ lyricist currently colaborating with musicians all over the country. We have shared a musical journey since 1979 and he has been a big influence.Tommy Piazza, Dick Armstrong, Jim Peterman, Terry Lee Evans, Billy Braatz, Don Cognoscienti, Steve Marx, Don Grady, Harlan Jefferson, Rob Goodwin along with many others I've been fortunate to share the stage with. Call me Lucky

1966 Eaton Chapel at Beloit College. The Dillards opened for The Byrds. I was there with my fellow bandmates from The Bitter End. The Byrd's played what was to be their next single...Eight Miles High....no one had ever heard anything like that before...David Crosby....Jim McGuinn...are you kidding me?

I have a 66 Strat that has about 3,000 shows on it. I've had that since '71.and it is my fave. I have a beautiful new Taylor T-5 that is unbelieveable...plays like butter. I have other Strats / G&L Legacy and a great thinline electric acoustic from Godin that has a maple neck and looks like a Tele that I really love. I have a cherished old Ovation 3/4 depth that I gave to my son Todd. I have one acoustic full body with a cut-away from Guild. I don't play full acoustic that much, but, it is a very nice guitar. Oh yeah, and when I'm traveling light, I have a Martin Backpacker. I'm a Strat Guy. I want something where my hands aren't way out in front of me. Once, at Rockford's "On the Waterfront" festival, I remember telling the crowd that I was grateful To Les Paul for inventing the electric guitar and to Leo Fender for perfecting it. I haul around a Roland Cube 60 for all the small "show and blow" gigs I do. It is versatile and light. My new Fender Mustang IV replaced the Peavey Stereo Chorus that I used for many years when I needed more coverage and punch. Again, the Mustang IV is light and versatile. Obviously, I'm not hung up on the "tube thing". I've got tons of "tube" models on the Mustang and some even on the Cube 60. So, having one amp that does one thing is not as appealing to me as one amp that will do several or many things.

Around here in the sixties, we all listened to WLS out of Chicago. It was a pop music station. I really can't say who my biggest influence was. There were so many. Until they built the Rockford [IL] Metro Center, the biggest venue for holding concerts in our area was the gym at Beloit College so the rock promoters apparently worked with the school and brought in huge acts. I missed the Kingsmen, but, I saw Ramsey Lewis, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, B.B. King....George Benson-Mose Allison-Freddy Hubbard all in the same show. They had Mahavishnu Orchestra. The first Beloit College Blues Festival [now referred to as "Folk and Blues"] featured Son House and Roosevelt Sykes along with many others. During the summers of 68 - 70 we would go to Majestic Hills Bandstand by Lake Geneva, spend 4 dollars to get in and see popular Midwest acts like the Cryin Shames, The Ides of March, Fuse [Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick] and REO Speedwagon open up for The Who, Iron Butterfly, Frank Zappa, Leslie West and Mountain. I saw Eric Burdon, who was one of my early heros, with War. I saw the Buddy Miles Express before he played with Hendrix. I remember seeing Archie Bell and the Drells doing the Tighten Up.
Madison was a stones throw away. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young [maybe the best show I ever saw] atThe Alliant Center. Also there I saw Jimi Hendrix, The Band, and in the clubs of Madison I saw Fleetwood Mac, Soup, REO, Boz Scaggs, Buddy Miles Express after he played with Hendrix, McCoy Tyner.

Personally, my cousin Bill Hinkley along with my brother Roger got me listening to blues and R&B related stuff that was outside pop radio.

Jim Peterman who played with Steve Miller on his first two albums and departed the group the same time Boz Scaggs did, married a girl from Beloit and started doing some things around here. He would bring in these amazing players that he knew from Madison and my cousin Tom Piazza and I never missed a rehearsal or a show. We soaked up a lot just being there. Eventually we both got to play with Jim. The most important lesson I learned from Jim and my cousin Bill Hinkley is this: HALF OF MUSIC ARE THE WHOLES YOU LEAVE IN IT. I am as guilty as anyone of getting excited and trying too hard. but, when I play my best, the holes are there too. Music is like all living things: it has to breathe!

"The Bitter End" became "Block" from '66-'70 [graduated high school '70] Pop band changed to blues/rock
"MSG" 7pc horn band first half of '71 Racially diverse. Played black & white venues
"Nesbaum" later in '71 Bought my Strat
"Tramp" '72-'73 Todd was born in '72 Funky pop and blues
"All God's Children" Horn band '73 -'74 Originals and creative covers
"Down 'N Back Band" '74-'75 Blues based / Jim peterman
"Easy Brothers" '75-'79" Dance music...original and funky pop
"Oasis" '78-'79 4 pc funk. Everybody sang.
"NightOwl" morphed to "Sleeper" '79-'83 Eclectic Country/southern/funky rock...Big Mac
"Agent" morphed to "The Works" '83-'84 White boy rock
"Tug Mumbo" '84-'85 Original and eclectic groove rock. Moved to Atlanta after Mumbo broke up.
"Dr. 99" morphs to "The Brodericks". '85-'87 Soulful original and funky pop.
'87-'92 only played special shows with Kathy Carllile Moved back to Wisconsin
"Somo Mojo" / Big Mac and "The Gospel Bells" / Jim Peterman '92-'94
Freelanced with Mud Puppies, Harlan Jefferson, Glenn Davis, The Dinosaurs.
"Nap Daddy" records Average Day over a period of 6 years starting in 2000 and releases March of 2008. 2009-2011 played in house band with Dave Potter and Alley Kings while crashing Glenn's gigs 2004 - now. Gigged festival shows with Harlan Jefferson '98 - 2008
Currently doing intermittent shows as Nap Daddy, The Hucksters, The Dinosaurs. Somo Mojo at the RAMI's in Rockford 2011.

The original Allman Brothers. But, I would happily settle for The Allmans and Derek Trucks.

I don'tknow. Outdoor show at Marquette University or SummerFest in Milwaukee. 5 or 6,000 people I'd guess. My most memorable show would easily be Nap Daddy's CD release show at Eaton Chapel on the Beloit Colege campus. Surrounded by my closest musical friends, all of my 4 sons on stage with me playing or singing. Friends and family in the audience. A night of a lifetime.

No More Mister Lucky by Randall Bramblett. He is an amazing songwriter and musician. Brilliant lyrics, driving or sensitive grooves and great musical ideas. Wonderful keyboardist/ sax man/ guitarist. It was that or Horsefly by Pat McGlaughlin.