It’s a wrap!

Since 2018 I retired twice due to chronic arthritic pain and hearing issues. Each time the desire to return was strong enough to figure out how to overcome things. It was expensive and painful. It took five surgeries and some amazing technology to get back up on the stage. I’m grateful for these past couple years more than I can say.

Billy Maine, you have my sincere gratitude for carrying the load and making things easier for me these past two years. We both know I could not have done it without you.

But sadly it’s come to an end  

In 2018 Huey Lewis had to shut down his career because of severe hearing loss. He now has a cochlea implant, which is basically a last resort before all hearing is lost. That bit of technology allows him to understand conversations but he can no longer listen or appreciate music. Technology only goes so far. It’s devastating to any musician in this situation. Huey now spends his time golfing and fly fishing. He said “you don’t need to hear to fish.” 
Add my name to the list of musicians that can no longer stay on the stage because of what’s called NIHL (noise induced hearing loss). 
At this age most everyone has something they’re dealing with. This is just my path, and there is no coming back. I wanted to express my gratitude for your support. Thank you for the friendships. Thank you for putting up with me. And thank you for helping me do something I dreamed of doing since before the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. Maybe now I’ll golf more … and maybe even learn to fly fish.  
Stay young and healthy friends. 
God is great

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“It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the b as f!” - Jimmy Buffett 

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Speaking of Jimmy Buffett… here is what AI said when I asked who was the opening act for Jimmy Buffett in San Diego in 1992?

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Thank you Jimmy. It was in 1977 inside a local San Diego State College hangout called Andy’s Saloon that I first heard Margaritaville on the jukebox. There’s no question that that song helped me move the chess pieces of my life in a new direction! Jimmy’s music hit my soul and within days I was playing his songs in beer joints, and the local yacht clubs of Southern California. A dozen years later I was opening Jimmy’s concert, and 3 years later playing with Jimmy and the Coral Reefer Band in front of 35,000 people. Truly a “hold-your-breath” moment, right?

 Over the past 40 plus years performing has been what has kept me moving forward in life. 

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Thank you all for the love, support and friendships through all the years.  Looking forward to seeing you soon.
God has truly blessed me. 

Video of me performing with Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band in Irvine Meadows, CA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=S6_ABCYYDkI

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