I was born in Silsbee, Texas on July 9, 1952. Silsbee is about 20 miles north of Beaumont, near the Texas/Louisiana border. Silsbee was a small, east Texas town with wild boars running through dirt streets. It is still a small, east Texas town but the streets are paved now. At the age of 11 months, we moved to Sealy, Texas. Sealy is about 50 miles west of Houston on Interstate 10 and Hwy. 36. It was founded by the railroad "baron" George Sealy of Galveston. My father was born and raised there. It is also about 5 miles from San Felipe on the Brazos River where Stephen F. Austin started the first "Anglo-Saxon" colony in Texas, with settlers mainly from Kentucky. After high school, I lived for 7 years in Houston (except for a year long stint in Austin at the University of Texas to study music). Then I moved to Los Angeles (City of the Angels) for 10 years. In 1987, I moved back to Austin. In 1992, I moved to Berlin (ironically, also known as the 'City of the Angels' and, officially, L.A.'s sister city) where I spent the better part of the next 4 years. I have been back in Austin since Jan., 1997. Next year is the year 2000. Who knows?

What kind of music do you play?

That seems to be up for debate. I call it Blues or Real music, that is to say I play with a marked absence of "artificial" sounds and electronics and keep my compositions connected to the "roots". My roots are, basically, the music of the Gulf coast of Texas. Blues, R&B, Gospel, Country, Folk, Cajun, Tejano, in other words, Texas music.

For me it started with Jimmy Reed. Caress Me Baby. But I grew up with Elvis, Chuck Berry, et al. George Jones, Ernest Tubb, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb and dozens of Texas/Louisiana singers I wouldn't even know the name of. (And, of course, all the "Sinatra to the Beatles" stuff everyone else grew up with).

I know a lot of old songs but I don't consider myself an "oldie" musician. I am not a "jukebox" type performer who does every request. I am always writing new songs and trying to give them a new energy and open up the form of blues. But I do stay true to my original inspiration I began playing in 1965, when I was 13. So I AM a true Sixties musician. I am always trying to connect the various influences in my life and move forward as an artist.
At this point, it might be the most accurate to say that I am a "Soul-Blues" singer who writes all kinds of songs.

What is "Texas Blues" ?

That depends on who you talk to. If you get 3 "blues experts" from Houston, Dallas and Austin , you will have an argument that could last days!

But I think it is best defined by those who have played it. Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Freddie King, Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Grey Ghost, Eubie Bowser, Ivory Joe Hunter and many, many more. And today: W.C. Clark, Jimmy Vaughn, Milton Hopkins, Gatemouth Brown, Johnny Winter, Derek O'Brien, Bobby Mack, Clarence Holiman (and Fran), Miss Lavelle White, Guy Forsyth, Ruthie Foster and many, many more. There have been hundreds of Texas blues artists for generations. Many of them have unique styles very different from each other making a clear definition of 'Texas Blues' almost impossible. But there is an emotional cord with a common soul and energy that binds them all together. And when you hear it - you know it.

You can hear the echoes of them in my music, some more than others. But, ultimately, like any good Texas blues artist, I am trying to find my own definition. I am always trying to re-define my music and the "Texas Blues" for myself.

Aren't Blues singers supposed to be black?

This is the most asked question in Europe and from "Yankees" north of the Mason-Dixon line. I must admit that most of MY favorite singers are black. Nonetheless, I consider myself (and others) to be a blues singer. Even when I sang country they told me I was really a "blues" singer. And I am NOT black. Nor have I ever particularly "tried" to sound black. I have always simply used the influences of the singers I have admired.\par So, I guess I will leave it to others to decide whether or not I am "supposed" to be a blues singer.

Why did you go to Germany?

They asked me. I submitted a copy of "Houston Blues" to the music conference, Berlin Independence Days, and was asked to showcase my songs. So, in October, 1991, I went to Berlin (and Europe) for the first time and had my first gig at the "Quasimodo", a well known Jazz club there. Buddy Ace was playing on the same bill that night. We hit it off, immediately, (what a singer!) when we found out that we were born within 20 miles of each other. He was from Jasper, Tx. Also hanging out to play the next night was Calvin Russell. (Thanks to Wolfgang Doebling for picking me out of his stack of albums).\par After I got there something else happened. The conference was held in the east part of Berlin in the former GDR section of the city only 2 years after the "wall" had fallen re-uniting "East" and "West". When I went to Friedrich Strasse, near old Checkpoint Charlie, to find the conference I had a special feeling about this place. Maybe it was from the "genetic resonance" created in me by my "Czech" grandmother. Maybe it was the emotion of being in eastern Europe for the first time. But I felt a connection with east Berlin.\par To make a very long story short (perhaps another time), I made connections in Berlin and, particularly, in the "East". I returned in June, 1992 and spent the summer living behind a club in east Berlin and doing gigs all over Germany. It was an exciting time when everything was changing in east Germany. There were spirited debates about "East" and "West" and the "American Dream" and the "German Dream". But dreams gave way to reality. And so the "magic" of those times has faded like the magic of the "Sixties". There seemed to be a need for a bridge. And music seemed to work. So I took it as my own personal mission to play in east Germany. Often, I was the first American musician that people had seen playing live in their town. Many of these were small towns along the Polish and Czech borders. New York Nick was already living there and playing all over the "East", as well. And a couple of other Americans. But not many.\par I am still in touch with many of the people I met in those "early" days when all was new in east Berlin. So, in trying to be part of a "bridge" from the west to east, I found a second home. Berlin ist mein zweite Heimat. And when I go back to play, my friends and I always find a bit of that early "magic" still there.

Do you have another job?

No. Of course, as an American Blues musician, I probably need one. Do you want to give me a job?

Who is your favorite singer?songwriter?

I love so many singers but the first to "hit" me as a true vocalist was Jackie Wilson, the late great vocalist who sang " Lonely Teardrops ". The first to get my attention as a singer/songwriter/stylist was Jimmy Reed ("Caress Me Baby"). Then, Elvis, George Jones, Chuck Berry, Hank Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson, Elmore James, Rev. James Cleveland, Clara Ward, Marvin Gaye, Roy Orbison, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Lennon, McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, J.D. Souther and many, many more in no particular order.Songwriters? John Lennon is my personal all-time favorite. ( I ocasionally fantisize about what might have happened if John and Willie Dixon had ever written together. Lennon was a huge blues fan). But, again, there are so many...Jimmy Reed ("Honest I Do"), Hank Williams, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Lennon/McCartney, Charles Brown, Allen Toussaint, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson, Billy Shaver, Willis Alan Ramsey, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Don Gibson, Brian Wilson, Cole Porter, Sammy Kahn, George Gershwin and all the many, many other great songwriters in no particular order.

How many guitar players does it take to screw in a light bulb?

For me only one. Jesse Ed Davis is my all-time favorite guitar player. Milton Hopkins and W.C Clark are also very high on my list as direct influences. Incidentally, but not coincidently, he was also John Lennons' favorite guitar player and played on "Walls and Bridges" (Lennons' only album recorded in L.A.). I was lucky enough to meet Jesse when I lived in Los Angeles and he played on some of my demos. And my first "record". A four-song, 7 inch, 33 1/3 vinyl that was released in L.A. the same day my daughter, Myla, was born. Perhaps later I can get some of those old analog recordings on my website. I took my first guitar lesson at 10 from Pete and Joe Kovar (brothers) in Sealy. I got more serious on my own at 13 and started a band and played bass. The guitarist to whom I owe the most personal debt is Johnny Laxton. I met Johnny in Houston in 1973 (he was from Bellaire). Johnny was an extremely talented musician and guitar player. I learned my basic style from him when I was 21. Johnny was the one who actually sat down with me and showed me what to do. And what NOT to do. I can't play like Johnny but you can hear much of his style incorporated into mine. Other favorite guitarists include: Phillip Walker, Pops Stapleton, Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, John Reed, B.B. King and many, many more in no particular order.

Are you married?children?

Yes. I have a beautiful wife named Daniela Herloff. She comes from Berlin, Germany. She takes good care of me and helps me a lot with my music business. Like this website and a thousand other things. Thanks a million! I have a daughter by a previous marriage named Myla. Myla is 16 years old and plays music as well. Check out her website. And check out the World Haus String Quartet at Babe's every Sun. evening at 7 p.m. I also have a "stepson", Christopher; he is cool.

Do you play "Sweet Home Alabama"?

With all due respect to the late great Ronnie Van Zandt, the answer is still no.