Normally, you'd be reading a biography about accolades and achievements, but those things seem so inconsequential to me when I think about the parts of my life that propagate those opportunities and benchmarks. Family, health, love and laughter, I pray I have them ever after. Sorry, but the songwriter in me couldn't resist putting in a rhyme,and it seems apropos. I try my best to live a simple life in a humble home, with a hard-headed woman, and together we are trying to support our children, while they lead us through life. And now, my wife and children are who inspire me to write songs about them; "Woman To Love" and "Growing Old" are two of my favorite songs respectively. (Don't get me wrong, I love my dog too, but it's been hard to pen an original song about a dog named Tramp, whose sole purpose in life is to keep my feet, and my heart, warm.) My fortunate life revolves around family, health and love, but my lifestyle revolves around surfing. The ocean revitalizes me like nothing else, and surfing is the perfect ADD-busting activity to keep me out moving and creative. I wrote "Feels Like You're Falling In Love" while learning how to surf, and the relationship between myself and the ocean continues to grow. Songwriting, like surfing, is collaborative. The guitar is my board, the ocean is my venue, and occasionally it's nice to share those rare moments with others. Obviously, 300 knukleheads in the surf lineup would stink, but a few companions on five wave sets, would be a pretty epic session. One of my favorite songwriting companions along the way, and someone who comes closest to understanding me, is Mr. Jens Funke. Recently, some of my best work has been our best work. Jens worked with me on four songs on my UNDERGREEN release: "So Good", "The World Is Yours", "The Truth Is Gone" and "Into The Sun". All of these songs are uplifting and are all a result of the effortless artistic relationship that Jens and I share. Many of my other influences, who I also consider musical companions of mine, are deceased. But that doesn't thwart their daily effect on me and my music. "Someday My Prince Will Come" by Miles Davis is my favorite album. (It always takes the edge off every time I hear it.) My favorite voice comes from Elmore James, Muddy Waters has my favorite attitude, and my favorite guitarist has to be SRV. Yes, I enjoy the the Blues, but as my companion Albert King once said, "Everybody understands the Blues, and from one day to another everybody has the Blues". AMEN. The way I see it, the key to a happy life is learning how to embrace the sadness. Look to it as an inevitable change that needs to take place to keep on living that simple, hopefully enjoyable life. I hope learning more about me as a person, helps you understand and enjoy my songs that much more. -EB