1972

The $30 Silvertone

It was 1972 in Pueblo, Colorado when a young lass named Terri first picked up the $30 Silvertone acoustic guitar from Sears. She had watched her older brother Chuck strumming this piece of wood, and she was fascinated. Becoming bored with her ‘girly’ activities such as dance and acrobatic classes, she told her mother that she, too, wanted to try the guitar. It was love at first touch.

Guitar Recital

Her parents enrolled her in guitar instruction classes at the age of eight, and thus began her journey into the world of music. Terri and Chuck’s music instructor, Paul Parker, told their parents that these two young siblings had a natural ability with the guitar. Subsequently, the two youths began playing at various guitar recitals in Pueblo and throughout Colorado.

Hooked on Rock N' Roll

1975
Her first year of junior high, Terri took a guitar class, playing some popular songs like Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock' and Eric Burden and the Animals' hit 'House of the Rising Sun'.

“I knew I was hooked on rock n’ roll then. I’m sure I played the songs horribly, but it was so much fun, I didn’t want to put down the guitar!” she said.

1976
In 1976, when her family moved to Temple, Texas, Terri neglected to find a new music instructor; however, she never strayed away from the guitar. She knew she wanted to play rock n’ roll, and after hearing Heart’s ‘Barracuda’ and learning that there was a woman in the band who played guitar, Terri was convinced this was her calling.

1979
She and her brother put together their first rock n' roll band, Krystal Axe, in 1979, playing cover tunes by Rush, Queen, Ted Nugent, Kiss and the like. Along with their bassist and drummer, they were in the Temple High School talent show (winning second place). The band continued to play gigs, mostly at ‘dives’ and high school parties.

1982
During her first two years of college at Southwest Texas State University, Terri's guitar took a bit of a back seat.

"It was difficult to practice when living in a dorm, constantly surrounded by people who were either studying or partying,” she said.

The fun and freedom of dorm life also detoured her from serious practicing. After her second year of pursuing a higher education, she decided against returning to a major university. Taking a few classes at Temple Junior College back home in Texas, she joined the school music group, Shadowfax. It was a Top 40 cover band that mostly played around town, but in March of 1985, the band would experience stardom.

Shadowfax

1985
With the help of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation,* Shadowfax, along with the school choir and a song and dance group, traveled to Romania and Austria. It was Terri's taste of the glorious ‘15 minutes of fame’ of which Andy Warhol spoke. To the Romanian teenagers living in a communist society, Shadowfax was America. They were, in the eyes of the young Romanians, the rock stars a teenager always dreamed of seeing. After two weeks of playing to full houses, signing autographs and being followed from town to town by their new fans, it was back to reality in the USA.

‘Fame’ had come and went quickly, and the next fall Terri returned to Southwest Texas to obtain her degree in journalism. Once again, music became a second priority.

1988
After moving to Los Angeles in 1988, Terri quickly discovered the harsh realities of a big city and the music business. She came to LA for a magazine writing job, which kept her so busy, she found herself once again in a position of not having enough time to devote to her music. The job did not work out, and her stint as a paid music journalist was short lived. Not wanting to return to Texas, she took a 9-5 job in order to pay the rent. She continued to do freelance music journalism, but the desire to be in a band and play could not be repressed.

"Every time I went to a club to review a band, I got bummed. I didn't want to be writing about these guys playing live; I wanted to be the one on the stage!"

1990

Life & Times

In 1990 she joined her first LA rock n' roll band, Life & Times, as a rhythm guitarist/back-up vocalist. Being young and idealistic, she was sure Life & Times would make it big. Much to her disappointment, the band fizzled and flopped.

1992

Big Money

The Merkins

She joined two other bands (Big Money and The Merkins), again as rhythm guitarist/back-up vocalist, during the course of the next three years. Playing someone else's songs soon lost its appeal, and Terri longed to have her own project. She spent the next several years writing new songs and practicing her guitar for hours almost every day after work.

"I was really burned out on being in a band and dealing with all the attitudes and other b.s. After I quit my last band, I went through a very transitional period where I became an evening recluse, spending all my time after work at home with my guitar. I started listening very intensely to guitar icons like Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani and Stevie Ray Vaughn. I wanted to play like these guys and move people emotionally the way they did."

Terri & Eric Johnson

"After seeing Eric Johnson in concert several times, I knew it was unrealistic to think I could be that good. It was a real kick in the ego, learning to accept my limitations as a guitarist. But, I think that also put me on the path to discovering what I could do really well on the guitar."

1994
During that period, Terri made her first solo demo ‘It's About Time’.

"It wasn't a bad demo, but I had limited studio experience and my songwriting still wasn't truly developed. The production was pretty bad, because, it was self-produced and not mastered. But, it was a steppingstone to bigger and better things."

"After making that demo, I went full steam ahead, researching what independent music labels took unsolicited demos. Every day I was sending out letters of inquiry or demo packages. I received some positive feedback, but no offers to be on any small label."

Still not in a band but craving the live performance, Terri began doing solo acoustic gigs around L.A.

“At the time, I only did the acoustic shows because I didn’t have a band. I missed being out there, and I figured it would only be temporary until I found another band.”

1996

Mighty Lucy

In 1996, she hooked up with a bass player, and they started a project called Mighty Lucy. Unable to find a drummer that really clicked with them, they began playing acoustic shows in various coffee houses and small clubs. Mighty Lucy made a quick demo with drummer/engineer Billy Sullivan of the Imperial Crowns and applied for a showcasing spot at the South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas. They weren't selected to play, but Terri did attend the conference to promote the demo.

1999
Might Lucy was another project that went by the wayside, and in 1999, Terri decided to join the modern age and record her first CD, ‘Pacific Ocean’.

Cloverland Studio

"Recording my CD was a real coming-of-age experience for me. First of all, I went into the studio with the attitude that doing the project was not for the intent of ‘making it in the business’. Sure, I planned on promoting it when I was done, but I mostly did it just to do it. I wanted the experience of making an album and working with really great musicians. It was one of the most fulfilling periods in my life. The things I learned and the growth I experienced while working on this CD brought me to an entire new level of wisdom in my life."

"I used to feel slighted because I never became some rich and famous rock n' roll star. Now, I feel lucky to be in a position where I have the opportunity to get out and play and share my music with people. If someone gets enjoyment from my songs, I feel very fulfilled. And nothing beats playing for people and knowing you've touched them. That is the best high in the world!"

Rockin' The Joint!