"Slats"

I was born on the bayou in Lafourche that is...About 25 minutes southeast of Thibodaux, La. I growed up in rice country between two other bayous; des Cannes and Nezpique. The home of Nathan Abshire and Dewey Balfa. "Grand Basile". I feel very fortunate to have grown up there. Many fond memories. Many good friends to this day. "Good People" as we say. (Actually we say, "Mais, dem is good peeple, yeah!)

I always remember liking music. I grew up listening to radio (AM) and older brother and sisters' wide variety of records. I also played in a band. Drums were my choice first off, amazed at the likes of Buddy Rich and the handful of other top drummers of the time. Later on, I played in "garage" bands. I listened to late night radio such as WLS in Chicago, WOAI in San Antonio, KMOX in St. Louis and especially "Beaker Street" on KAAY in Little Rock. I got to hear the new stuff before the stations in South Louisiana would play them. I became a Creedence Clearwater Revival fan and I still like their music today. In fact, they influenced my writing a good bit. I can't forget things like the "Mamou Hour" and the television shows such as Bandstand, Porter Wagoner, etc. that also added to my musical education.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot the Happy Fats show! Then, the FM radio thing happened and on the right nights, WRNO out of New Orleans could be heard. I even put an antenna up in a pine tree once! Had all the other influences like most of the kids of my day, Allman Brothers, Zepplin, the Motown sound, the whole "Clapton" thing, B.B. King, et cetera and add infinitum. Purple Peacock and Spanish Villa were in there somewhere too. Anyway, I had lots of influences; I like many types of music (almost all for that matter) and love to play.

After more than twenty years, decided to pick up playing again. I began playing at the Thursday night blues jam at Phil Brady's, sat in with a few bands at other gigs, and then got involved in Weekend Warriors.

Eventually met Freebie and Mark. Ive been playing off and on with them for about five years now. I met Scott through Freebie. I started writing again, toolyrics for the most part. Im not as good at putting the stuff to music. I hear it in my head though. Communicating it to a guitar player is whole "nuther matter" though.

So that brings us up to the present time, where we find ourselves in the "Blooze Hownz". Freebie and I started out as a two piece, little known acoustic blues/originals band. We kicked around some names, then I saw some stuff on the web and I came up with Blues Hounds. As luck would have it, it was already being used. So we decided to go with a "bastardized" spelling, as Freebie put it. So Blooze Hownz ( this spelling took a few tries too!) was born! I can't deny that the snaggle-toothed Ole Blue ( the famed "Redneck" dog of internet fame) didn't have some influence on the name, so he is our Official Mascot.