dlparker: Retired IT Pro, 50+ yrs musician, on the bus since fall '68

Retired IT professional. Been playing guitar for 60+ years, started playing in bands in 1971. Did that exclusively from '71 through 1979. Have continued playing in bands off and on since then. Not currently playing with anyone.

Graduated HS in 1964 as a "scholar/athlete" but by mid-semester my freshman year I was a "dumb jock". Ineligible for track spring semester freshman year, but lead cross-country team sophomore year, high-point man on track team and conference half-mile (800m) champ my sophomore year. Continued to run track and cc but more interested in music and partying in general. Transferred to N'West MO St in 1966, got married, divorced, dropped out of school fall of 1969, worked various odd jobs. Moved from Kansas City, MO to Columbia, MO in March 1971, joined my first band in August of 1971. Played in various bands around Columbia. Moved to Springfield MO in June of 1976 to attend S'west MO State U (now Missouri State). Studied classical guitar there, finished my BS (finally - 204 hrs), psychology major philosophy minor. Moved back to Columbia, continuing to play music. Got a "real" job in Jan of 1980 as a corporate computer programmer. Married again in 1983, became a dad, got divorced. Took several graduate courses in psych and counseling. Moved back to KC area in 1991, worked as an IT consultant/contract programmer. My son died in September of 1996 at age 12. I essentially gave up on everything at that point. Didn't have the energy to do anything. Continued working for a year or so after that but I was only going through the motions. After some time off I resumed working as an independent IT consultant, doing work for various small businesses around the KC area. Began playing guitar seriously again around '98/'99. It's no exaggeration to say that music saved my life. Joined a band in early 2002 - my first in nearly 15 years. Tried to "retire" from IT work in 2008 - started collecting SS. Continued to do some IT work but gradually phased that out while continuing to play music. Since things opened up after the pandemic I've only played out a few times, only 5 times for money.

I essentially "inherited" a cat - Charlie - in 2007 when the owner of the house I was living in was away for about a month taking care of her mom. Charlie was pretty much in charge until September of 2024, when he passed away - the night before I moved from Kansas City to my current home in Pleasant Hill. I again "inherited" a couple of cats - Wilson and Bella - who made the move with me from the KC residence.

My GD adventures started during the fall of 1968. My first GD album - Anthem of the Sun - was my first bus ticket. Purchased a lifetime pass when I saw them for the first time in February of 1969 in Kansas City, KS. Saw them 13 times between Feb of ’69 and Oct. ’73, most often at the Fox in St. Louis. My guitar style was heavily influenced by Jerry Garcia’s playing of course, but over the years I’ve learned to really appreciate Weir’s style. They’ve both been a huge influence on my playing but I’ve also learned a lot from EC, Hendrix, the Kings (BB, Albert, Freddie) among many others. These days I’m more focused on session guitarists like Reggie Young. I find Reggie’s and Troy Seals’ contributions to Dobie Gray’s Drift Away to be particularly inspiring. The guitar work of Jimmy Johnson, Eddie Hinton and Raymond Banks on The Staple Singers “Be Altitude: Respect Yourself” album are among my favorites. I could go on and on, but…

A fairly disjointed narrative, but we can fill in the details as we go...

A dead fan of course, but someone with a generally positive outlook on life, open-minded, critical thinker, music lover in general. I know that's pretty vague, but...

music track running