Rex's Ramblings

I am 42 years old, I live simple life in very small town nestled in an are known as Mineral Area, in Missouri. I am engaged to a beautiful woman, who is strong and is the source of my inspiration, we recently moved in to our new home, with her two lovely children, and are settling in quite eagerly.

In my day, I have been employed doing many different things, from a radio DJ to truck driver. In my recent years, I decided it was time to set out and do what I have always wanted to do, and that was write music, well actually I had been doing that for better part of my 42 years, but it was time I gave it the old college try as they say.

My first project was my CD Pieces Of Time. I recorded the CD in my office / low tech recording studio, playing all the instruments, occasionally borrowing instruments from friends, recorded everything via Audacity and presented it to the world officially in 2004. I was delighted when I received my Copyright notice, it felt like an accomplishment. However recently I have learned that the “big boys” consider registering your copyright to be amateurish, and indeed that is exactly what I am. Still take guilty pleasure in it though.

I have a particular love for the independent artist. Being one myself, I realize that is dangerously close to being narcissistic, but I do my best to remain humble, with much help from my meager earnings of my chosen craft.

I have played in bands for years, mainly doing the cover band thing in nearly every juke joint and tavern or VFW between here and Indianapolis. Although I love to play music, and sit in a band from time to time, I have grown away from that love affair. These days when I perform it’s solo, and nearly all of my original stuff. What covers I do, I do them my way. It’s not that I feel it’s better, it’s just that much like the late great Johnny Cash once said… “I am a song stylist” meaning. I don’t see myself as a singer, or for that matter a guitar player, I just have a knack for interpreting a song differently.

On this month June 2009, my family was forced to say goodbye to my Uncle Ron. My heart still breaks. I had so much more I wanted to share with him, and miss him dearly. Ronald Dean Pingleton, was my favorite cousin’s father, and he was the corner stone of my music. Through out my life Uncle Ron gave me many things, toys, and gadgets which I lost or through time simply faded. He gave me advice which much of the time, I forgot to use when the time was right. He gave me praise, which I took for granted. The one thing he gave me, which forever changed me, that gift which wound up defining me… my music. That day he took the time to teach me a G chord, and had the patience to endure my meandering and clumsy playing. I can still hear his guitar playing some Sonny James tune, which we would always play. In all the songs I have written no matter what the topic was, in my heart and mind, I would wonder if Uncle Ron would like this next song.

My Uncle was a song writer as well. Sadly, there are few recording left, but his music is alive along with his memory. I read recently that a songwriter’s music lives on about 70 years after they pass on. I hope that in some way, I can serve as a means for Uncle Ron to live a little longer through my music. When you hear my songs, you are in sense, hearing Ronald Dean Pingleton. I assure my friends, that is more reward to me than anything.