Having not performed since I was in college, in 2010 we formed a band. It was called the Grimes Alley Blues Band, named after the acoustic duo our guitar players had. We played a lot of festivals around Central Florida, quite a few private events, and we even got the chance to play at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. Once I retired and we started traveling a lot, there wasn’t much time left for the band. So at this point, the band is now just a memory.

Click the image below to hear a sample of what we were doing. 

Checkout more Grimes Alley live shows on YouTube.

After moving to Tennessee, I was looking for new things to get involved with. While I missed playing music, I didn’t want to make the commitment to a band again. I came across a group of mostly retired people doing acoustic jam sessions. Although the music was much different, I’ve really enjoyed playing once again and developing some new friendships.

In addition to the jam sessions, a small group of us also play monthly at some retirement homes, including the local Veterans’ Home. It’s turned out to be something quite rewarding.