Jacksonville, Florida was home to Southern Rocks heavy weights: Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, and Molly Hatchet, just to name a few. I was lucky enough to have made friends in the business, which led me to meeting the local band “The Project.”​

Band members had played with the Danny Joe Brown Band (prior to Danny re-joining Molly Hatchet). “The Project” did well playing various shows throughout Florida and opening shows for Van-Zant, Molly Hatchet & other National Acts. “The Project”, was later renamed “China Sky” and enjoyed some major success.

Enter Mr. Evors…

Brian Evors was the stage manager for The Johnny Van Zant Band. He hired me to be the keyboard tech for Brian Heatherington of Van-Zant. I ended up working for the band from 1984 to 1987. First as keyboard tech, then as the guitar tech and then onto stage manager when Brian Evors quit.

Van Zant was courted by Washburn Guitars and was provided an endorsement deal. Washburn gave me a tour of the plant in Buffalo Grove, Ill where I was educated further on guitar building, electronics, and guitar set up “secrets.”

In 1987, Johnny took the helm of the “Tribute of Lynyrd Skynyrd” band. I was originally hired by Gene Odum to assist him on the tour with selling his book “I’ll Never Forget You.” Two days into the Oakland rehearsal, I was approached to be the guitar tech for Gary Rossington, Jay Johnson and Tim Lindsey during the “Rossington Band” set opening for the tour. This was my life from 1987 – 1989.

When my first child was born, I pulled off of the road and worked locally in Jacksonville. For the the next 2 years I worked at the local music stores American Music and The Music Box. American Musuic is where I learned from the late, great Gary Smalley. Gary was one of the brightest individuals when it came to doing ANYTHING with a guitar or bass.

In 1990 I was hired to consult, tech and stage manage for the “tribute” Molly Hatchet Band. From 1990-1992 I did several US tours, before the evils of the road got to me. I thought to myself, “that’s enough!, time to stop the madness!” So, I left the music business all together.

In 2011, the music bug got me again when I was introduced to “Cassidy” (a then a 12 year old singer/songwriter who lived right across the street from me). It was through support of her, (and all of her fault I might add!!!) that re-kindled my love of music working on guitars and working live shows from the 80s & 90s.

So, in 2013, I decided to open Bubble Up’s Guitar Works in Palm City, FL. At the time, there was only Guitar Center and a few small “shops”. They could not give customers the proper attention your stringed instrument I believed they deserved. I also started supporting the local music scene performing both guitar tech and stage management duties for some amazing talents like Cassidy Daniels, In the Light of Led Zeppelin, KISS America, Get Closer: A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt, and Era Smith.

I (now “we,” because we’ve grown!) continue supporting local musicians and building relationships on the Treasure Coast of Florida! Great artists and bands such as: Cassidy Daniels, Michael LeBon, Shovelhed, One Eyed Willie, Switch N’ Whisky, & Led Zep Live! We even support the extraordinary artists of Sister’s Doll Band in Melbourne, Australia and it’s awesome to have thier support in the land down under!

Today, we continue to run the busiest repair shop on Florida’s Southeast Coast.