So, who am I? No one important, admittedly. Not anymore, anyway.I was formerly a public safety officer with experience as a police officer, EMT/firefighter, state safety and security officer for the Ohio Department of MR/DD at the Southwest Ohio Developmental Center.That was up until 2005, anyway.
I became injured while performing a takedown on a violent resident at the state facility, and long story short, I ended developing a condition known as cauda equina syndrome as the damage progressed over time. In 2006, I was officially disability separated from service.
My career, my identity as a public safety officer… all no longer a feasible envdeavor.
Some other things made impossible was the ability for me to perform at length, lift my gear, sit or stand comfortably, and to be able to regain a sense of pride and a reason for even existing at that point. In fact, 2007 was the last year I played an acoustic drum kit. I had switched to an electronic kit by that time.
However, I didn’t stop playing. I just could no longer play for any length of time. From 2007 until 2022, I had searched periodically for people to form a recording project with to no avail. Nobody wanted to only record. Where’s the fun in that, and more importantly, where’s the money in that? No gigging means no income from music, and that would just be untenable for a musician who wants to make some money.
I’m not saying that I don’t want to make money, but I am a realist and know better than to hang my hopes on getting any sort of stipend. In fact, I believe that I had mentioned this on The Schnooks’ site, but I actually operate at a loss, and always will.
This project isn’t about popularity or money. Though both would be nice. It is about regaining a sense of pride and a reason to still exist. Think of my music as “proof of life.” It is me saying “I’m still fucking here, whether you ignore me or not.”
In 2022 I had discovered that anybody can now bypass the old gatekeepers (A&R people [arts and repertoire], studio execs, established producers, etc.) by using services like Tunecore, Distrokid, and RouteNote. I had decided to take advantage of the opportunity, learn how to use a DAW and modern production techniques, and begin releasing under “The Schnooks*” moniker.
And that brings us to today. Now we are all caught up on the exciting history of me!
*Why is it plural if it is just me? Because I hope that, someday, someone will realize that I still serve a purpose and will join The Schnooks as a member. The plural name is a bit of wishful thinking.