My story
My parents were both musicians with an album each, so it was natural to start me playing at 3 years old on a 1968 air organ,
By age 5 I had my first guitar.
My influence are The Beatles, and I wanted to be in a band at age 7, I had to settle for trumpet and began my training years, I held first chair from 3rd grade to my sophomore year of college.
While in junior high my teacher and still biggest inspiration Bill Leonard taught me bass clef, so I played trumpet in wind ensemble, tuba in symphonic band and bass guitar in stage band.
During my time in high school all that was available was marching band, since the jocks hated me for being a long hair “stoner” they called me, I went to college classes and graduated early to start my freshman year of college at 16.
My biggest push as a child was at 14 years of age, while at a family thanksgiving the adults asked us kids what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said a professional musician, they laughed and gave me the turkey drumstick saying “here’s your start” yeah, fuck them still.
I wrote my first song at 14, my goal was 12 songs, so I numbered them, I just finished number 5,225.
They may not be great, but I wrote every one of them.
The songs online are the ones I’ve picked out of thousands that I like the best, I have no genre, it’s just me.
I’ve been in a hundred crappy bands in my life, what you’re listening to is my crappy band.
Made up of myself and some students from the local college.
I’ve put a lot of work into them, if you like them let me know, and thank you very much for listening!
The Black Goat of Oregon City
Shawn Floyd
June 2026
