"I dreamt it up."
That's the short version when asked the question I have been asked many times in the past few years, "So, how did you hook up with the Tull boys?" And in a way, it is the most accurate version. It starts there in the dream world and then turns into a somewhat epic story evolving over 8 months. So, here's the rest of the story.

For about 2 years from mid 1996-1998, I had a flurry of rock star dreams. Several Tom Petty, a few Rush, an occasional Kate Bush, even Stevie Nicks. All of them involved food. It would be me and a rock star, hanging out and eating... cookies, spaghetti, whatever. Interestingly though, looking back over that timeline of dream journaling, all of the dreams I had about Jethro Tull didn't involve food. They were real, life-like, vivid pictures of me onstage with Tull, of Ian Anderson introducing me to his audience, of me backstage, etc. Over 2 years time, I had had about a dozen Jethro Tull dreams.

For about the same 2 years, I had a certain "to do" list. I called it my Jupiter list. It had big, risk-taking, far-flung, "out there" things on it. Stuff like "make contact with the Pleiadians," "save the whales," "jump out of an airplane," "clean out my sock drawer," "see if I can contact Ian Anderson, my favorite rock star," etc, etc. Originally, my plan for contacting Ian Anderson was a vision of turning up on his doorstep under the guise of a person interested in purchasing some salmon, and pretend I knew nothing about his music career. Then, after he invited me in, I would comment that he must be a musician, seeing all the gold records on the walls and guitars and stuff like that. Then I would say, "Oh, I happen to be a musician too!" and then he would invite me to play tambourine in the band and the rest would be history. I never got to that plan, but back to the list. Ok, so, this Jupiter list, named affectionately after that jolly old planet of luck, grace and expansion, was taped above my desk. A desk cluttered with lists of lists of small detaily things. My normal "to do" lists always seemed to take precedence. Still, I knew that one day I would just go for it and do one thing on my big list. It took 2 years, but it happened so naturally.

I was downstairs washing dishes and it was a voice or inner urge that said, "Go write that letter to Ian Anderson NOW." I dropped the dishes mid-way and went upstairs and started. Here's what I wrote.

12-10-98

Dear Ian,

I am writing to you hoping you will actually receive this letter. I know it's a long shot but I've been wanting to write and send you my music for many years and just recently realized that I might as well put it out there and see what happens.

So, I am a huge fan of yours and your music has been the biggest influence on me as an artist. I have been playing music for a living and travelling 60-70,000 miles a year touring for several years. Many times I am asked by fans and press who my influences are and I say honestly that Jethro Tull is my favorite band of all time. I can't tell you how much I love your music... it is a feeling that goes to the depth of my soul and covers the entire spectrum of my being. Thank you for the music.

I thought I'd send you some of my music in case you actually get this and maybe want to give a listen. I have 2 CD's out and about two more CD's worth of material ready to record. I have enclosed some bio info so you will know more about what I've done with it all. My path in this musical world has been a small one and mostly self-propelled. I have accomplished a lot, and always the goal is to gather assistance so that I can devote more to the creative part and less to the business. As it has been, I have booked my tours, done all the publicity, arranging, managing, etc., and have performed all over the U.S. doing about 200-250 shows a year for 8 years.

My dreams are many. If I had one wish in the world of music, it would be to open a show for Jethro Tull. I feel my music would fly with your audience and that is the most real, tangible way to connect. Sure, I'd like a manager, a nice record deal, publishing deals, booking agent, etc. But the most direct way to get what is most important (the music to the audience) is to open for someone whose style and audience is resonant with me.

If you like the music and would consider me for an opener on one of your tours, whether that's in the U.S. or anywhere else on the planet, I would do it and be grateful. If you have any thoughts on this or if you'd like to offer any advice or feedback, I'd be very happy to receive it.

With all the respect in the world and much appreciation,

I had no contact. I had no agent, record company, manager, nothing. I did have my best friend Jennifer as a web goddess and 3rd house savvy data detective and I asked her to hunt around and see if she could find any addresses for JT. She found about 6, although none of them gave any indication they would be a place where HE might actually receive something, so I just closed my eyes and picked one. I sent off my brilliant letter and a press kit and a copy of my latest CD, "This Guardian at Noon," on Dec. 11, 1998. After that, I didn't even think about it. It was like, well, a gesture of BIG doing to the universe and doing it was enough. I ticked it off my Jupiter list.

So, when I checked my voice mail on Dec 22nd and listened to a man claiming to be Ian Anderson, I, of course, flipped out. Not one but TWO messages, very polite, asking when would be a good time to call and chat. After freaking out totally and calling all agagh to Jennifer with a flurry of "Oh My Gods" and "You're not going to believe who called mes," I dutifully called Mr. A's secretary back and left a message stating that I would be in my office on Dec 26 and 27, after Christmas.

On December 24th, I went over to my mom's to convene with brothers and sister and nieces and mom to do Christmas. My siblings are all huge JT fans. Sis used to play flute and sing in a JT cover band. Little bro is a drummer, a la Neil Peart (we're talking Rush here now, I know) and older bro is the person responsible for turning me on to most of the progressive music I listen to today. Anyway, so with absolute delight, I told them the story of my Ian Anderson messages, and to prove it, I called my machine to replay the saved (Of course they're saved; they're even taped and archived) Ian messages. I called and the machine told me I had one new message in the 3 hours since I had left the house. I said, "Oh let me get rid of this first," only to hear my 3rd message, thank you very much, from Ian stating that he got my message, etc., etc. I mean, at this point my siblings starting howling with a combination of delight and "holy shit this is serious" shocked kinda looks. Ian called me on what would've been Christmas eve his time. I mean, did he have nothing else to do? There with a glass of wine and a turkey leg calling ME?? Wow. It was like a dream, almost.

So, the 26th and 27th came at last as I went about my office biz as presently as I could. It was all so surreal that I couldn't get too worked up. It was so bizarre! Of course, every time the phone would ring, I jumped, and finding the other person on the line was not Ian, uttered a rushed "goodbyegottago!" to keep the lines open!

So, on Dec 27 THE CALL came. And it was brilliant. Ian was funny, charming, professional, candid and easy to talk to. Our rapport was and felt truly good. It was good phone. Real, to the point with lots of nice bits. I scribbled hurriedly as Ian initially complimented me on my music and even referenced one of my lyrics about Sting. I quickly pointed out that I wasn't so much a Sting fan but had merely dreamt about him once. Anyway... one of the very nicest things he said to me was, and I quote, "it is rare that I get anything that I really like and I think 'Gee, I wish I'd written that'." At that point, I could've died happy, but there was more to come. When asked by Ian if I only perform solo, I said mostly, but I can put a band together if he'd prefer. Ian said there was no need for that as he has a band and I can just use his band if I needed or wanted one. I said "Sure, sounds great." Faint.

Anyway, as it turned out, he was more interested in me a a solo act, which is good as that is what I had been doing for 10 years.

After asking how much money I wanted, etc., and this was bizarre... like talking to God with my business cap on, we wound up the conversation with his request to send him a live tape so he could "see how I tortured the audience." And while no guarantees, we were looking at maybe 6 shows for me to open on the summer tour of 1999. Cool, I thought. Thanks very much, I said.

I hung up the phone with an outrageously good feeling, and quickly filled in my notes of all I could remember of our lovely conversation.

On January 1st 1999, I moved from Virginia to Arizona. I had been planning this move for several months prior to the Ian event. I got to AZ and began taping a few of my shows, and in late January sent Ian a tape. As the tour didn't start 'til August, and I knew Ian was very busy recording, there was no feeling of rush. I would wait and be zen.

Well, it wasn't until mid-April that I heard any news. Tull's production manager sent me a fax outlining the tour and I was asked to pick out a quarter of the dates that were good for me. Ok... so I did. I mean, obviously, any of the dates I would've done, but it was nice that they had this respect for what dates would be better for me than other dates. Ian is very classy. Anyway, so, after that, I didn't hear anything until sometime in June. Things were progressing. Then on July 1st, I got THE call and was asked if I was available for all of the shows on the entire US tour. Gee, I GUESS I can be available... hmmm... let me check my calendar... YES, it just so happens I am free. That was when I actually popped the champagne.

The entire process from December 1998 'til August 1999 was an amazing experience in zen-ness. I had told very few people of what was transpiring over that time. While holding a place of inner trust and contentment, I surrendered to the motion of the universe, the higher power that was orchestrating this inner and outer event. For a large part, I couldn't even really think about it. Not that I denied it. Far from it. I said YES to it and all of its becoming while simultaneously not letting my mind or emotions run wild with "what ifs" or "what if nots." It was a big lesson in trust. There was nothing else I could do. I, for the first time in my life, really understood what trust was. It was simply the only thing to do. To trust was to be in peace. So, I did.

So, yes, I was very excited on July 1st and at that point started to share that with friends and fans. The tour started in 6 weeks and there was much to be done.

So, that's the story. It was quite a cosmic event. I am still amazed and grateful at having such a rich unfolding of a dream. And it was just the beginning, as the entire tour and everything in it, every second, every person, every experience, was beyond anything I could ever have dreamt up or imagined, in the best way. It was beyond my wildest dreams.

So, my friends, pay heed to those dreams, trust the process and go for it.