I Am Maddox

Gypsy Soul

Beginnings

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, my earliest musical influences included campfire songs at Camp Bradford Boy Scout Camp, where my family worked and stayed through the summers during my early years.

At 7 years old we moved to LaGrange, Illinois. The Hoosier accent of my brother & I drew a lot of attention from the city kids, and we quickly learned to suppress it.

Six Strings in LaGrange, Il

Early in these years I became terrified of singing solo. I did however continue to sing in the church on Sundays.

The newly opened Park Jr High School offered a folk guitar class. I took the class and was immediately hooked. My first song was Tom Dooley.

1976, for my 12th birthday I got my first guitar, a Supro Lexington.

I began lessons with John Ziganto learning the classics at the time. I also began jamming especially with my best friend Cary Strejc on drums.

Port Huron, MI

Blue Water

At the end of 1977 my family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. PH Northern band teacher Michael Schwalm would let me play guitar in the Jazz band as long as I also played baritone horn in the marching band! I started learning jazz chords and rhythms and generally expanding my playing.

I joined a couple of bands, one with some church friends, and one with school & work friends. The later went by the name Lyghthouse and played locally at Lakeside Park, and at the Hotel Harrington Ballroom.

College & Career

For a number of years, music took back seat to education and career. My father gently encouraged me to find a solid career path that intersected my love for music. That lead me to studying engineering.

In 1980 I started at SCCCC in Port Huron. I then spent a year living with my Grandpa in Indianapolis while I attending IUPUI. I was also able to play in the Indiana State University Jazz Band at this time.

Three more years at Purdue in West Lafayette and I was an Electrical Engineer.

My first few years on the job were focused on power electronics and took me to Westborough, MA, and then Pardeeville, WI.

My next job though was a turning point, I became a systems engineer for Bose Corporation in Framingham, MA and was able to attain my dream intersection of music and electronic

I learned about acoustics, and everything I could about audio systems. I also travelled a lot spending time in Germany, Austin, and San Francisco.

Finding Balance

Many of my Bose friends were musicians and I began to bring music back into focus. We had regular jams and I played with an ever changing roster of musicians of all skill levels.

Since the late 1990's I have been playing with Last Man Standing, though we went by various other names in the past including Mojo Chicken, Mother Earth Blues Band and Gheezer.

Today I split my time between Naples, Maine and Northborough MA. I enjoy playing every opportunity from backyard jams to full band gigs.

Influences

Everything in my life influences my music. Family, friends, hardships, my roots in the midwest, my travels around the world, and of course all of the music I listen too.

My favorite guitarists & songwriters include: Joe Walsh, Randy Rhoads, John Mellencamp, Billy Gibbons, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dickie Betts, Warren Haynes, Jerry Garcia. Recently I am listening to Kenny Burrel, Robben Ford and Bernard Allison.

All of these amazing musicians have influenced me greatly.

I especially enjoy playing Blues and Blues Rock.