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MY FIRST JOURNEY...
My interest was in Broadcasting but this is who I met in Little Five Points or L5P. Meanwhile I met with Black Crowes, Steel Pulse, Jamiroquai, UB40 and The Grapes.
I moved to Austin Texas to put all my energy into healing at the Austin School of Healing. I met some of the best healers ever such as my instructor Miriam Birch and was moved by the information I was gaining. To enhance my healing training I met Stevie Ray Vaughan on the street. I played with him and enjoyed his shows at Liberty Lounge and much more.
Meanwhile I was still training in healing; one of my most upmost important healers was Sister Clara Page and secondly Sister Genevieve Vaughn from the Austin Woman's Peace House who motivated me to continue. Also I was influenced by one Bashara Bashara.
I was going through serious changes after Stevie and my mother passed away and I needed someone to connect with. To say this I was coming home from my healing classes lonely one day with my conga on my back, and a guy named Willie said "Hey, I stay on Guadalupe, Third and Chalmers". He said, " I see you happy every day but you're sad today." He told me to come with him. He looked all broke down, like he had nothing and I followed him home. When I entered his house, there were some of the most beautiful congas I've seen in my life in his front room. He played for me and that's when I knew I wanted to be a conga player for real. After he taught me the techniques, he asked me a favour; Would I heal him? And he said that he was a drug addict. So I played a rhythm for him... Four days later I was riding to the airport and I saw Willie at the Rehab Clinic. I don't know if that was his healing point but it was the point when he asked for help. I realised that the first step to healing is having that need to ask for help.
The next day I was in San Francisco, with Willie echoing through my brain reminding me that "You've got it because you smile when you play". But I never actually smiled!
Moving on through my life in San Francisco, I went through many journeys. One day I was playing on the street with a short haired dread lady, right at the Power Station, where the chess players are at. A beautiful black woman, and we played for 40 minutes. It was Tracy Chapman.
I left and went to Fisherman's Wharf, my spot was where Otis Redding had played so I was very happy to be there, busking and panhandling.
...To Be Continued... Watch This Space...
