Here is my story...

I was born in the Guild Guitar Factory in 1977 in New York City.  I traveled to Maine where I ended up in Viner's Music Store in Bangor.  My best friend there was a  guitar named Allie Alvarez - we hung out on the wall there, just wishing we could  go home with somebody.  Two teenage girls, Sananda and Susan, came into the store and after much deliberation, they chose us and sat down on the floor to play together.  Well that was a new, unbelievable experience for me.  Those two girls couldn't have made a wiser choice.  My deep rich tones blended with Allies bright clear voice!  It was like magic!

We left the store with those girls and started a partnership and friendship that would last for over 30 years.  We played at weddings, we played at coffee houses, we played at bars and we even played at the Bangor County Jail!  We eventually went to Nashville, Tennessee and played at the famous Blue Bird Cafe.

A lot of life happened and both girls eventually had families and moved away from each other, but they always kept in touch and we all got together to have some great musical hootenannies.  Then came the terrible news...Sananda had been diagnosed with cancer.  She had been misdiagnosed - they told her it was stage one cancer when it was actually stage four cancer.  

Susan came to North Carolina where we were living. She took me out of my case and put me in Sananda's arms - they sang together for one last time.
I loved being held in Sananda's arms again.  After Sananda passed away, I somehow got lost in all the confusion.  But Susan never gave up searching for me - she knew that I belonged with Sananda's daughter and that I just had to get to her.  A great stroke of luck came when I was found in a barn in South Carolina.  

So that is how I ended up on the greatest road trip of my life!  I am on my way to be reunited with my family - Sananda's daughter,
which is where I want to be more than anything!  But don't tell her - this is going to be the biggest, happiest surprise!  She has no idea that I have even been found.  I can't wait to see her again!  She will jump for joy!

​Here I am in the studio in Nashville Tennessee
with Susan and my dear friend Allie Alvarez guitar. That is the great guitarist
​Dave Cleveland holding me.  We recorded the song that Susan wrote
for Sananda, titled, "You'll Always be here with Me".
​ Allie and I got to sing together again
after so many years apart. It was so wonderful!

Here I am with Sananda practicing with Allie and Susan at The Eagle Mountain House in New Hampshire, and on stage
with Sananda and Susan playing the banjo at Evergreen Valley in Maine- Allie is resting back stage.

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From Sananda's daughter, Sarah about receiving the guitar:

​They say that sound makes deeper memories than any other experience. For me the sound that must be my first memory, would be the sound of my mother‘s guitar. From before my birth, until I was five my mother was a full-time working musician. Her guitar was a center of our home and our world. The sound of her guitar is like the sound of her own voice to me. She played gigs right up until a few days before I was born having to play on her side because her baby belly was too big to play with the guitar in front. when my mother passed her husband refused to let me have her guitar, and as the years went on, the guitar was lost to me, allegedly sold to pay medical bills. I heard rumors of where it was, but could never obtain it. Three years ago my stepfather passed away from cancer and I thought ‘that’s it.’ Any hopes of this guitar died with him. the other constant in my life would be my mother‘s guitar twin, her sister from another mother - Susan Oliver. She was in the room when I was born and she purchased a guitar alongside my mothers. The start their band, their musical journey. When my stepfather passed, I spoke to her, and we cried for a long time on the phone. I told her of anything in this world, I wish I had my mother‘s guitar. I wish I could still hear her voice. It’s been three years since he died and all hopes or dreams of the guitar have been let go on my journey to make peace with my mother‘s passing.
Susan reached out to me about a month ago, saying they were going on a cross country road trip to celebrate her husband‘s retirement and could they come see me? This was an obvious Yes! I asked if they were staying for a month a day or a year?! my home was theirs when they arrived. I was so excited when they arrived. We spent hours talking about my mother and the memories and all the stories I remember them talking about, laughing. It was like hearing my own mother‘s laughter again, and it fed my soul. Little did I realize their journey cross country had an ulterior motive! she had located my mother‘s guitar!!! She planned this entire trip to make sure it returned home; to me. The only thing my Mother loved as much as music, was A good road trip. So fitting her guitar had this cross country adventure. Iam still in disbelief, a week later. I’ve had many happy tears and it seems right that on this 15th anniversary of my mother‘s passing, I share this story and my mother‘s voice with you all. I am moved and honored beyond words that Susan and Neil would do this for me, for my mother. that even 15 years after her passing, their love and loyalty for her would compel them to do such an amazing journey! All so that I can hear my mother‘s voice again. it will never be enough thank yous that I can give them, but here is a public shout out thank you Susan. Thank you Neil. I love you both..

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Please Remember That the Best Fight Against Cancer is Early Detection.