MUSICAL INFLUENCES

MY FAMILY

My first musical influences were my older brothers and sister.  The house was always filled with the sound of one of them playing scales, etudes and chords, tones and enticing melodies of a classical piece.  I thought playing the violin was as natural as walking. 

Every Tuesday was private lesson for Heidi, Kenny and David and every Thursday afternoon was a group lesson for the 15 young violinists that studied with Donna Lim. At group lesson the children learned ensemble pieces and each lesson concluded with a solo performance from each student.  This experience built student confidence in playing before an audience of peers, parents and friends.  I watched these lessons from my mother's arms until I was old enough to participate. 

We had a half dozen various sizes of student violins in the house, ranging from 1/16 to full-size.  As each sibling outgrew a violin, it lay in waiting for the next young violinist. 

One early spring day before I was three, my brothers and sister were heading out the door  to lesson with violin cases in hand, I picked up the 1/16-size violin case, squared my shoulders back and followed them out the door.  That was when I decided to play violin.

When I was three I performed alongside students from throughout Mendocino County at the annual Daly's Mezzanine Youth Recital in Fort Bragg.  I played Go Tell Aunt Rhody.  That was the beginning of my performing career.

My family traveled to Mendocino regularly, when my brother and sister rehearsed and performed with Symphony of the Redwoods.  I saw my first live opera, Madame Butterfly, at the Mendocino Music Festival.  We would also watch master classes by prestigious visiting violinists, opera singers and pianists.  From professionals, I picked up practical tips and an approach to musicianship.

KEVIN WELLS

Kevin Wells is a professional rock drummer and songwriter who tours with Pablo Cruise and is musical director for and tours internationally with Laura Branagin.  He has recently recorded with Jewel and producer Bill Botrell in Mendocino.

I began to study drums with Kevin Wells when I was 10.  It was just an exercise to learn  rhythm for piano.  Kevin was the first professional musician that I had encountered.  He would begin his lessons with awe-inspiring demonstrations of the best drumming I'd ever heard - intricate rhythms in the most perfect time on the drum set in his studio.  Then he'd go to his Korg M1 and fill the room with poignant stirring sounds of his original songs and I would be the drummer.  He encouraged me to experiment and find sounds I liked on the keyboard.  I would sing and play the keyboard to his drumming.  That was the beginning of my songwriting.  Kevin still listens to my songs today and is a mentor.

ALASDAIR FRASER

Alasdair's musical mission is to teach his beloved Scottish musical idiom to musicians and the world.  He offers an annual Scottish Fiddle Camp in California's Santa Cruz mountains with the dance, percussion, piano and singing of Scotland.  Musician's come from around the world to learn from Alasdair and each other.  His brother, Ian, runs the camp in Scotland on the Isle of Skye.  I attended these 10-day summer camps for 5 years and learned especially about the joy and camaraderie of making friends and music together.  Alasdair always brought top-notch musicians to teach us—so we learned from people like Irish fiddle recording artist Martin Hayes, Green Linnet Records; Rounder Records' Bruce Molsky who taught us Scottish derived Appalachian old-time fiddling, and Cape Breton fiddler, Buddy MacMaster.   Musical fun, improvisation and laughter filled the camp 20 hours a day.

Alasdair is always wholeheartedly encouraging young violinists.  His complex, beautiful chords and melodies is what I reach for in my fiddle.

PETER ROWAN

One summer our house was filled with the gentle harmonies of an early Rowan Brothers album including Little Darlin' Pal O' Mine.  My sister and I sang together songs from that album.  Late fall '98, Mark Keyes invited the Hogcallers to open for Peter Rowan and Ramblin' Jack Elliott at the Willits Grange.  My sister and I fiddled and clog danced and joined Peter Rowan and Ramblin' Jack for an encore at the end of the show.  It was a highlight of my performing career. 

RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT

I knew nothing of Ramblin' Jack until I saw this fragile, old cowboy climb the stairs to the stage of a standing room only house.  He had just returned from receiving an award at the White House from President Clinton.  He was tired.  I wasn't sure if he was gonna make it to the mic stand where there was a high wooden stool waiting for him.  He slowly picked up his guitar and began to sing.  He filled the large hall with a voice that was bigger than him and then he charmed us with his stories and songs about horses, diesel trucks and people.  That was it!  I was a Ramblin' Jack fan!  I saw him a year later in San Rafael, when he played and joined the audience for the Marin premiere of  The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the award-winning documentary his daughter shot about his life and his place in American folk music.

LAURIE LEWIS

My brother, Peter, brought home from college, Laurie Lewis' True Stories when I was 12.  I played that CD a lot.  I liked her clear, easygoing, bluegrass fiddle and I liked her songwriting.  I learned Val's Cabin and The Mill from that CD and I performed with the Round Valley Hogcallers at Booneville's 1998 Wild Iris Festival, headlining Laurie Lewis.  I met her; she was gracious and encouraging.

ELVIS PRESLEY 

About 10  I started listening to Elvis a lot.  I just loved his sincere, natural singing.  I listened especially to his country songs, but I loved everything.  I learned his songs; I wanted to sing just like him.

HANSON

Hanson was a big influence for me because they were kids, musicians, songwriters and they were successful.  I wore out Middle of Nowhere, joined their fan club and saw them live at Shoreline Pavilion.  They were role models for me.

SKIP & BARBARA NEWELL

The Newells have been a second family to me.  They have encouraged and provided me lots of opportunity to play live and meet with a variety of professional musicians including Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys when they played at Penofin's BLUEGRASS IN THE BARN.

DR. BILL BOWEN & FAMILY

The Bowen family has been my home away from home as I attend Mendocino College.  Dr. Bowen is a hard-working and respected orthopedic surgeon who is also equally respected and capable as a pilot and flight instructor.  He is teaching me to fly and maintain small aircraft.  I'm very excited about that.