My dream of singing professionally started at the age of 13. Being a shy, socially awkward teenager only brought grief and sheer loneliness during the summer months. I poured my heart into practicing the piano for hours and composing simple songs into the wee hours of the night. I recall a time when I was working at a Baptist church in Imperial Beach. They had a simple sound system that I would often use in order to record my songs. I would record and then go back and listen to what I believed to be were the best expressions of what I was dealing with in my life at that time.

I came across those recordings the other day and I took the time to play through those songs of my teenage years. I was pleasantly surprised and grateful for how far I’ve traveled both emotionally and musically. So, as I listen to my voice and the musicians who are part of my current recordings, I am truly humbled at this marvelous experience of setting down all of my new experiences onto a disc or digital files. This music is a gift, a joy, and a privilege. Not only has it served to be a constant companion, but a connection to a world that far exceeds anything I could have imagined for myself.