In June of 2011, I will begin a new ministry leading worship at Life Church in Sulphur, LA
Check us out there at URL: http://www.life-swla.com
I've played guitar for over 29 years... In 1999, the cut capo
totally changed how I play!
For ten years I worked as a school teacher/coach and also lead worship at church and at many opportunities that open up... youth rally's, revivals, and also in prisons. The only purpose I have in playing guitar is to play for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the one Who has given me the ability to play and has opened up all the opportunities I've had to play and to work with this capo.
The capo story.... I first heard of this in 1999 at a Maranatha Workshop in Mobile, Alabama. Then later in 2000 at a Worship-Together conference in San Jose, CA I saw Chris Tomlin using this technique and took that opportunity to learn a little from him. From some discussions and emails with Chris, I realized that it would take a whole new 'mindset' as far as looking at chords and fingerings. So, I sat down and wrote out all the “theory” I needed for the chords I might play in worship music. Once I had written a chord chart for the capo, I saw how simple it was and began to teach others how to use it. I called and met with Milton Kyser of Kyser Capos, and after a year of discussions with him, I found myself demonstrating the first finished "Short-Cut Capo" at the 2002 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, TN. I was able to meet with Rick Cua, who was with WorshipTogether at the time. In August 2002, I met again with Rick and we filmed a “webisode” of instruction with the capo for the WorshipTogether website.
The webisode is now available on DVD at the Worship Together store. (You can also watch it HERE) Also, Worship Together has SIX - 40 -song "How To" songbooks featuring great worship songs from Worship Together -- included are the instructions and tabs for the cut capo. These books are available on my order page.
In April of 2003 I was invited to teach a workshop class for
C.A. Guitars in Lafayette, Louisiana, as part of the
Festival International de Louisiana. It was a wonderful time...
Great food and Great guitars!
In November 2004 I began teaching a Cut Capo Workshop at the
Christian Musician Summit in Washington (since grown to be in
Sacramento, CA; Buffalo, NY; and Phoenix, AZ). I began writing for
Christian Musician Magazine and Worship Musician Magazine in 2003.
April of 2007 I filmed the content for Worship Together's
"Cut Capo Guitar Course" -- on which I teach song specific
chord progressions and techniques for 10 of
Worship Together's best songs for worship.
Along the way I've had the blessing to be able to sit down and show some pretty incredible people how to play with the cut capo... Bob Taylor (Taylor Guitars), Paul Baloche ("Open the Eyes of My Heart"), Tim Hughes ("Here I Am To Worship"), Rick Cua, Carl Cartee ("Glorious Impossible", "Don't Let me Miss the Glory"-- written with the cut capo), Mike Hohnholz ("Great in all the Earth"), Rick Muchow (Saddleback Church), Billy Smiley (Whiteheart), Gordon Kennedy (Whiteheart, "If I could Change the World"), Tom Lane, Bob Kilpatrick ("Lord Be Glorified"),
TJ Klay, Carl Albrecht...
Many of you have heard of these guys... but there are many of you out there who have incredible stories of how God has blessed with this capo! Please take a minute and read some of those stories here. if you have a story to add, please Email Me
All of this is evidence, not of what I can do, but of how incredible God is. He is the One Who has enabled me and equipped me for this ministry. To Him alone be the Glory!
Sample audio from our church services April 2009 Holy/Overcome - these are Dry, Live recordings from Worship services at FBC Dayton, TX
New July 2009: Everyone (Praises) with For Who You Are