GROWING UP:

* Michael Williams - Played with the gospel super group, Commissioned...Check out "Commissioned Complete"
* Joel Smith - 'Hawkins Family'...Check out "Love Alive II"
* Tim Froncek - Local Legend!  He has played with Benny Goodman, etc., etc.!
* Jimmy Abney - Plays @ Bethel Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
* Maurice Sanders - I grew up watching this cat play @ church when I was about 12 years old.
* Kevin Cornelius - Was thee man in my hometown when I was growing up.

MUSICIANS & PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE & HAVE INSPIRED ME:

* My Family!
* Reggie Jones
* Tony Williams...Check out any of his solo albums or stuff with Miles
* Art Blakey...Check out anything with the Jazz Messengers
* Elvin Jones...Check out anything by John Coltrane
* Philly Joe
* Max Roach
* Billy Cobham...Check out "Spectrum"
* Dennis Chambers...Check out John Scofield's "Pick Hits Live"
* Steve Gadd...Check out Steely Dan's "Aja"
* Steve Jordan...Check out David Sanborn's "Upfront"
* Steve Smith...Check out anything by Vital Information
* Vinnie Colaiuta...Check out his solo CD
* Will Kennedy...Check out the Yellowjackets' "Live Wires"
* Dave Weckl...Check out any of his solo CD's
* JD Blair...Anything by Victor Wooten
* Bill Maxwell...Played and produced with the Winans and Andrae Crouch
* Stevie Wonder...Check out "Music Of My Mind"
* Chris "Daddy" Dave...Check out anything by Mint Condition
* Stokley...Check out anything by Mint Condition
* Buster Smith
* Glen Chapman
* Kenny & Keith Phelps
* Mario 'Skeeter' Winans
* Victor Wooten
* Anthony Jackson
* Oteil Burbridge
* Bishop William L. Burrell (Mentor)
* Bishop William Abney (R.I.P.)
* Pastor Horace & Kiwannis Hockett
* Pastor Norman Holman
* Pastor Dennis McMurray
* Mona Shores High School Staff, Faculty & Students
* Jim Lawrence
* Dennis Emmons
* Don Miller (R.I.P.)
* Momma Willie Bell Redditt (R.I.P.)
* Dwight Bowman
* Carl Bowman
* Larry 'Beau' Hines
* Hollis Sisters
* Daryl Hobbs
* Tim Cowert
* Pat McGowan
* Joy Smith
* Brother Johnny Jones (R.I.P.)
* Elder Lou Daniel Phillips (R.I.P.)
* Jeff 'Tain' Watts
* Reggie Jones
* Bill Demarse
* Jim Lawrence
* Jack & Chris Adams
* Joey Dawkins
* John Selmon
* O. Brian Burrel
* Arnold Wayne Kinsey
* Toriano Martin
* Lovell Bradford
* Kayla Parker (R.I.P.)
* Joey Bruce
* Calvin Turner
* Akil Thompson
* Chester Thompson
* Larry Tucker
* Brian Holland
* Keefe Gardner
* Ticky Dewberry
* Justin Williams
* Pastor John Williams
* Mark & Bill Cooper
* Michael Howe
* Dave DiCenso
* Steve Ferrone
* John "JR" Robinson
* Bruce "Boo Boo" Carter

PERSONAL FRIENDS THAT ARE STUPID BAD:

* Carter Beauford - Check out DMB's "Crash"
* Lemar Carter - Anointed, Carrie Underwood, Joss Stone
* Marcus Finnie - Donna Summer
* Terreon Gully - Christian McBride Band
* Marvin McQuitty...Check out Fred Hammond's "Purpose By Design"
* Calvin 'Coon' Napper - Donnie McClurkin
* Kris Meyers - Umphrey's McGhee
* Terrance Higgins - Dirty Dozen Brass Band
* Chris Coleman - Check out Israel & New Breed's "Live From Another Level"
* Quincy Davis - Tom Harrell
* Jevin Hunter
* Nathaniel Townsley, Jr.
* Derek Roddy
* Raymond Massey
* Teddy Campbell
* Jeremy Haynes...Check out Kurt Carr's "Awesome Wonder"
* Darius Pimpleton
* Steve Johnson & the Funkyard
* DD Holt
* BRuss
* Adrian Boganey
* Charles Johnson & the Kwest
* Steve Harris
* Robert Pace
* Ricky Hicks (Mentor)
* Wilton Machen
* L. Craig Tyson (Mentor..R.I.P.)
* Delicious Band
* Ken Reynolds
* Lovell Bradford
* Nate Morton
* Poogie Bell - Marcus Miller
* Chris Fryar - Check out anything by Oteil and the Peacemakers
* Gerald Heyward
* Chester Thompson
* Mitch Hull
* Buddy Gibbons
* Kahari Parker
* Chris Bond - Born Again Church
* Calvin Rodgers
* John Staten
* The Hip Pocket
* Brian Haley - Toby Mac
* Steven Williams - Bobby Jones

CURRENY LISTENING & STUDYING: Updated 6/1/08

* Old Soul, Funk & Rock Music - Seals & Crofts, Sly Stone, Steely Dan, etc.
* James Brown '68 & '71 Bootleg Concerts...STUPID!
* James Brown DVD - "Live in Montreux '81"
* Al Green - "Lay it Down"...?uestlove
* Booker T & the MG's...Al Jackson, Jr...STUPID!
* Marvin Sapp - "Thirsty"...Calvin Rodgers CLINIC!
* Sara Bareilles - "Little Voice"
* Nathaniel Townsley Trio - "The Big Idea" Wow..
* The Power Station - Tony Thompson (RIP)...He was a bad cat! Alright Tony...

More Coming Soon!  Until then, I'll be studying...