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Roger Shepheard
- Guitar/Vocals
Photo
credit : Cathy www.cafeedge.com
Musical Bio:
Revised 12/27/07
______________________________
From the
beginning:
Well, it all
started when my
sister Ronda,
bought me a
45rpm record of
“Spinning Wheel”
by Blood, Sweat
& Tears on my 14th
birthday. It’s
all her fault. I
played that
record until the
vinyl turned
into dust.
Something about
the beat just
stayed in my
head and
wouldn’t go
away. Little did
I know this
began, to this
point, 39 years
of trying to
express myself
musically. When
I was 18 or 19,
my best friend
Mike McCormick
and I were in
Richmond VA for
some unknown
“road trip’ and
we happened upon
a pawn shop that
had a guitar for
sale. I “think”
(its still very
hazy, if you
know what I
mean), it took
my last $50.00.
Didn’t have any
food - but man I
had a guitar.
I
lived in
Virginia Beach
Va. more than
once. I loved
the beach and
the ocean.
(Still do). I
used to drive to
a remote spot on
Sunday, find an
abandoned beach
cottage and park
in the drive
way, sit in the
sun, find a
comfortable sand
dune and
practice,
practice,
practice. I was
awful, but I
kept trying.
From there it
was play anytime
anybody would
listen to me. I
just knew
someday there
would be a
payoff. Not sure
what the
“payoff” would
be but I knew it
would come.
Virginia Beach
was good to me.
It’s also where
I met my wife
Vickie, going on
28 years of
marriage as we
speak.
The payoff:
Ok, I know what
it is now (for
me anyhow). For
years all I did
was give, give,
give (time,
effort, money
and energy) to
learn how to
play guitar.
Finally I get
it. “There comes
a point in time
when the guitar
gives back to
you more than it
takes”..if that
makes sense.
That’s when
there is NO
turning back.
It’s the
ultimate legal
drug. Here's a
good example. I
have a studio
downstairs in my
home and I still
practice daily.
Let’s say I
start at 6:00pm.
Well before you
know it, it’s
11:00pm and I
honestly never
knew where the
time went and it
happens every
single time.
That’s a big
payoff. Guitar
to me is the
“ultimate”
stress reliever
and in the same
breath can be a
“stress
creator”. More
explaining
below.
Fine line
between passion
and insanity:
Now, here comes
the big problem
for most of us
musicians. Is it
“music” or is it
9 to 5 so you
can be secure,
have benefits,
raise a family
and buy the new
home and cars.
Some musicians
are fortunate
enough and
talented enough
to make a living
playing music,
but it ain’t
easy. I have the
utmost respect
for the one’s
that do (i.e.
"Barry Richman
and Roger
“Hurricane”
Wilson of Atl Ga)…
Well in my case
I have tried to
do both for the
last 25 years
and it's
“frickin” hard.
I’ve worked in
the hi-tech
industry for
most of my
working career
during the week
and then gigged
on the weekends.
I had to, if I
was going to
play music.
Luckily my wife
Vickie is one of
my biggest fans
and supporters. I’ll
never forget
sitting in a “C”
level meeting
with one of my
boss’s
discussing
“quotas” and
thinking the
whole time about
SRV’s lead line
in Little Wing.
Or not be able
to sleep at
night because of
a blue’s song
that is stuck in
you’re head.
“Blue’s..please
let me
rest…….EC”
Meat and
potatoes:
Band’s I’ve
been in or
started since
1980:
The JQ
Band
(Country)..and
Western
(Florida)
Doubletake
(Duo)
(Florida)
Hytek
(Midi
duo)
(Florida)
Mid-Life-Crisis
(Blue’s/Classic
Rock)
(Florida/Ga)
TwoGuysWithGuitars
(Duo)
(Georgia)
Break-48
Band
(Blues’/Classic
Rock)
(Georgia)
BluesNV Band
(Blue’s/Classic
Rock)
(Georgia)
The
“Shufflejunkies”
(sm)
(Blue’s/Classic
Rock)
(Georgia)
Some of my
favorite gig’s:
* Rolling
Thunder Over
Georgia
* Crystals on
the Square
* The King Eddie
Calgary Canada
* 4th
of July for the
City Of
Woodstock
* Riverview
Lounge
Some of my
musical
inspirations:
Eric Clapton
Stevie Ray
Vaughn
Johnny Lang
Kenny Wayne
Shepard
CSN&Y
Dan Fogelberg
(rest in peace
brother)
BB King
There’s
not much
left to
share with
you other
than my
personal
motto:
"Play every gig
like it's your
last"
Roger
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