TEXAS BACK - GAV!N

I started to play the guitar when I was 7 yr's old. I can remember wanting to be able to play songs from the great country artists such as Jim Reeves, Kenny Rogers, Don Williams, Johnny Cash etc. But my guitar teacher had other ideas, so I spent my early years working on Classical Guitar pieces that although sounded pretty good, weren't what I wanted to play. I was so chuffed when I finally learned to play a whole song with chords because then I could sing along till my heart was content.

I had been going to the Salvation Army with my family since I was a baby and I always enjoyed singing the chorus's and hymns. As soon as I was old enough (again about 7yrs old) I was drafted into the Singing Company and then the Junior Band where I learned to sing and play the cornet (Not at the same time). Whenever we went anywhere in the car Mum or Dad would start singing and Debbie and I would join in. Even then, Debs always had a great memory for the words and was often quick to tell us off if we got them wrong. (Something's never change lol)

During my early teens I became the Solo Cornet player for the County Durham Youth Wind Band. I got to travel to Germany and Norway and I also got to play in the Royal Albert Hall. I left the Salvation Army when I was 17 and everything changed. I joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and spent almost 4 years in the Forces where I hardly played at all. When I left the Army, I found it hard to get a job and busking kept the wolves from the door whilst I was between jobs. It wasn't until I reached the grand old age of 27 that I started taking my music seriously again and returned to Full time education.

I studied for two years at Newcastle College and gained a HND in Applied Music Studies. I Then went off to the Birmingham Conservetoire to start a Bachelor of Education (Music) degree before transferring to Sunderland University to complete it. For the next 10 years I became buried in the ever increasing work-laden life of a Secondary School teacher. I became a Head of Department and managed to steer a couple of Hundred kids through their Music GCSE. (Not bad for a busker eh? lol)

After years of singing together round camp fires at festivals and Family BBQ's, Debbie and I found ourselves between relationships at the same time and decided that we would use the time wisely and finally get our heads together. We rehearsed some songs acoustically and went down to the Aclet Hotel in Bishop Auckland to join in the monthly sing around. I remember someone suggesting that we should take it up professionally so we started looking for backing tracks and buying equipment. A few months later we got our first professional DUO gig at the 'Broken Wheel CMC' in Hesleden near Hartlepool. We were like two frightened rabbits caught in the headlights of a huge truck, but we got through it ok and even got a booking back. The next day we started phoning as many agents and clubs as we could find.

Almost five years later and we're still going. We've had a lot of fun playing in clubs, pubs and festivals all over the North of England and Scotland. We've had a couple of Number 1's on the Soundclick.com Country Charts, Been interviewed on BBC and Independant radio, Played in the Great North Country Music Festival and recorded and sold a good few copies of our first Album. Recently I have also started doing one or two solo gigs where I get to play even more of my favourite tunes.

So What's Next? well I do know we have a few more self written songs ready for recording and it's about time we brought out a second album (I have nearly learned all of the words to the first one. lol) We have quite a few gigs in the South including Norfolk, South Wales and Devon and Cornwall to fit in and around our Northern and Scottish gigs but we're always looking for more so keep a look out in the Country Music Press and come and see us soon.

Best Wishes

GAV!N

GAV!N's No 1 Song "WHY DO I" on Soundclick.com at