Album Notes

I was born in Avon Park, FL. December 6, 1969 and lived in Lake Placid FL. In 1979 my family moved to Elba, AL. Today I still call it home. I graduated from Elba High School in 1987. Like many in country music, I cut my teeth listening to the old country record that my dad would stack up at night and let them play through. I would fall asleep listening to Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, George Jones, Kenny Rodgers and many more of the great country artists of that time. I would always sing along with the songs but never learned to play guitar or any other instrument when I was young. I just enjoyed singing. I can remember sitting behind my bus driver singing because she told me she really enjoyed it. In my late teens, I would load up some guys in my truck and go to Vortex Springs in Florida. I would put Clint Black’s “Killing Time” cassette in the radio, climb up in the back of my truck and sing along. I would have a crowd around the truck but never thought for a second that I could sing for a living.
It wasn’t until August of 2003 that I really thought about taking my shot at country music entertainment. I had the privilege to sing for “The American Dream”, Dusty Rhodes. I grew up a big fan of his and felt honored to get to entertain him and some of his family that were putting on a karaoke contest at Panama City Beach to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, Jerry’s Kids. May I add that he is a great guy to be friends with. I finished second in the men’s group for which I received a trophy and a 4 song deal in Nashville, TN. from M.M.T. Music Group owned by Bruce Goodwin. I went and met with Bruce at his office a couple weeks after the contest to talk about the song deal I had won. That night changed my direction in life.
I decided that if Nashville is going to hear me, it would be me doing my songs, even though I had never written one. That very night on the way home from Bruce’s office, I wrote my first song, “Mama’s Smile”. From there it is history. The artist in me started to come out, even though I still couldn’t play a guitar. I wrote several more songs over the following years. “A Bad Day of Fishing Beats A Good Day At Work”, “Alcohol Abuse”, “God Loves Us All” are just a few of the songs I wrote while putting together my cd project.
More on the personal side, I would like to thank my lovely wife, Christina, for putting up with the beginning of my self taught guitar lessons over the last 3 years. I have to say that I am much better now. I have two children, Joshua,18 and Zachary,17. I just call them “My Boys”. They make me proud to be a dad! I would also like to thank my parents, Aubrey and Joyce Gilbert. They are two of my biggest fans. I love you both. And last but not least, my fans and friends, for the years of support and encouragement that give me the drive to become an even better artist! I hope everyone enjoys these songs as much as I have enjoyed sharing them! God bless!