Originally my music influence was the music of my church, largely English, with hymns, psalms, choral anthems and the like. There was an effort in the '60s to introduce folk and folk ways and I rode along on that influence also. I enjoyed all this along with piano and vocal studies until about the age of 13 when I started to enjoy the rock and roll that I heard my older siblings play around the house. I shortly developed a taste for Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span, The Stones, and Led Zeppelin, but I never gave up my previous loves. As a teenager I witnessed Roy Buchanan live and that cemented my love of Telecasters and blues.

Little changed, even through a Neil Young phase and a localised celtic scene until I met and heard Simon Mayor about ten years ago. His mandolin and his musicality has been the single biggest influence of my adulthood.

I write and improvise in a variety of styles, and I hear everything from Bach to blues, from Pete Seeger to Oscar Peterson in my work, though I wouldn't pretend to have a fraction of any of those talents in even my brightest moments. I like blues solos on guitar and Bach harmony, so it's little wonder that I might also site prog-rock influences like Yes, ELP, and the like. Tull's Bourree anyone?

A parent of one of my guitar students commented that I used music from everywhere. Good thing, otherwise I'd be bored and the student wouldn't get what they need. Hope I can pass it on.

Peace, Mooh.