(6) WE FOLLOWED THE BUILDING TRADE TO COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON

My father expertise was home building. Like Elvis Presley's father, Vernon, my father had to travel for work quite a bit. When I was about ready to start high school we moved from Murphy, North Carolina to Cottage Grove, Oregon following a building trade boom.

My brother Junior had a Fender TM guitar - the best! He taught me to play. I idolized my brother Junior. He had a Country Western band that played all around Oregon and had a deep voice like Tennessee Ernie Ford. Junior loved to sing "Dark as a Dungeon."

My daydreams as a teenager were about joining Junior's band, making out with girls, and driving fast cars. I loved speed! I had a few accidents that shook me up but I always walked away without a scratch.

Link above to Tennessee Ernie Ford's official web site, so you can read up a bit on him.