Chris Dolan

I guess my love for music started very early on. Around the age of four or five, my brother Buddy showed me his record player. He was sixteen or so and very much into rock 'n roll. Who wasn't in 1974? He showed me the Beatles and Black Sabbath, you know, bands good to listen to when you're four or five. Anyway, I must have really thought they were cool because when Bud went to school the next day, I apparently went into his room to get some more of it and wound up scratching all of his vinyls. I don't think he's forgiven me to this day.

I really loved music throughout school and when I got into Jr. High, I joined the band. I played my sister's old hand me down clarinet for about three years or so. I eventually grew out of the clarinet. Besides, how many great rock 'n roll shows have killer clarinet solos in them?

Growing up in the '80's, music was scarce and so we all made due. I would love to tell you that I didn't get into Flock of Seagulls, Michael Jackson, and Herbie Hancock but I would be lying. I was confused to say the least.

It was my Dad that got me into guitar. He had some old acoustic guitars and used to play and sing old country and gospel songs. I really thought that was cool and he taught me a few chords. That was when my love for that kind of music began. 'Til this day, I have a thing for GOOD country music.

Before I knew it, High School came along. I found myself stuck in a TINY town in north east Oklahoma. I recall walking in to school to find that the lockers were made of wood. I thought it was a joke, so, I skipped my first day of school and walked back home.

I eventually adjusted and settled in. I don't think it was so much the place but my age that had changed and soon my whole outlook on music was different. No longer did I have to listen to Madonna, Culture Club, Wham, Whitney Houston, or Chaka Khan. It was all Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Bad Co., Aerosmith, The Beatles, and Sabbath for me, you know, the good stuff. I had to listen to classic rock radio to get any satisfaction. You knew it was going to be a good day when KMOD was coming in clear up in the small town of Fairland.

After High School, I moved back to OKC and really started playing guitar. I would sing and write my own lyrics. I started to play a lot too. My brother Jim bought a cheap drum set and we started jamming daily. We called our band Skynny Lyzyrd. We played a lot of Skynyrd and our originals. Eventually, Skynny Lyzyrd broke up over a bitter dispute about which Dolan was the front man. Just kidding, Jim got busy with school.

Over the years since, I have found myself involved with many bands but have possibly found the most well meshed set of guys yet, The Street Kings.

Well, that's about it. I do want to say thanks to my Dad who made me finish that last year in band on the clarinet. Looking back, it really wasn't that bad being a band nancy.........