Encore Performances
From Rock & Roll Legends to Rock-Star Hospitality
From Rock & Roll Legends to Rock-Star Hospitality
They say you can't mix business with pleasure, but I have proven that the theory is not always true. When you're passionate about what you do, the "business end of it" becomes secondary to the "pleasure" end of it. And then there's the "sweet spot" where "business" is truly the pleasure... and that is because What you Do has value because it impacts positive change that create lasting memories. And that's where I have found balance in all aspects of my life. Making a difference and creating memories. This is where Harmony and Hospitality make perfect sense to me. This is my journey.
Music has always been in my soul — a passion that transformed into a 25-year performance partnership with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley. Our bond of trust and friendship was sealed not only on stage... but in life. He was my mentor in music and in life. I was his best friend.
In honoring his unmatched influence, I built two of his most iconic guitars and awarded him the title “The DNA of Rock & Roll”, complete with a gold badge that he cherished and proudly wore on his guitar strap. We shared many gifts.
Throughout my journey with Bo, I shared the stage with countless legendary artists — Each artist and every band credited their success to “the beat of rock & roll” that Bo pioneered. I was humbled to be in the presence of great performers who were masters of music and captivating audiences.
One unforgettable milestone came in 2002, when Bo Diddley himself arranged a private surprise birthday party for me — hosted by The Rolling Stones.
I returned the milestone to Bo after hand crafting the iconic "Bad Dude" custom guitar. It was a guitar that he and I designed together, and it took me nearly 2 years to finish it. When it was finished, it was my gift to him, and it became his most prized guitar.
My passion for guitar building, and the recognition I gained from creating unique guitars for Bo Diddley led to requests from other artists including Steven Seagal, James “JY” Young of Styx, Joey Molland of Badfinger, and country stars out of Nashville. To date, I have built over 100 custom guitars.
Along the way, I have written and published songs, I recorded on a few albums, and performed with artists whos records I listened to growing up.
Today, the spirit of those encore performances resonate through my concepts, principles, and techniques of HOST, where the same precision, artistry, and showmanship that electrified world stages are used to transition your hotel staff into the center stage spotlight of best-in-class hospitality, worthy of an encore.
Music has always been in my soul — a passion that transformed into a 25-year performance partnership with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley. Our bond of trust and friendship was sealed not only on stage... but in life. He was my mentor in music and in life. I was his best friend.
In honoring his unmatched influence, I built two of his most iconic guitars and awarded him the title “The DNA of Rock & Roll”, complete with a gold badge that he cherished and proudly wore on his guitar strap. We shared many gifts.
Throughout my journey with Bo, I shared the stage with countless legendary artists — Each artist and every band credited their success to “the beat of rock & roll” that Bo pioneered. I was humbled to be in the presence of great performers who were masters of music and captivating audiences.
One unforgettable milestone came in 2002, when Bo Diddley himself arranged a private surprise birthday party for me — hosted by The Rolling Stones.
I returned the milestone to Bo after hand crafting the iconic "Bad Dude" custom guitar. It was a guitar that he and I designed together, and it took me nearly 2 years to finish it. When it was finished, it was my gift to him, and it became his most prized guitar.
My passion for guitar building, and the recognition I gained from creating unique guitars for Bo Diddley led to requests from other artists including Steven Seagal, James “JY” Young of Styx, Joey Molland of Badfinger, and country stars out of Nashville. To date, I have built over 100 custom guitars.
Along the way, I have written and published songs, I recorded on a few albums, and performed with artists whos records I listened to growing up.
Today, the spirit of those encore performances resonate through my concepts, principles, and techniques of HOST, where the same precision, artistry, and showmanship that electrified world stages are used to transition your hotel staff into the center stage spotlight of best-in-class hospitality, worthy of an encore.
Publications & Features
- Rolling Stone Magazine
- Guitar Aficionado Magazine
- Vintage Guitar Magazine
- Wheels on The Road Magazine
- 108 Rock Star Guitars (Author, Lisa S. Johnson)
- Immortal Axes (Author, Lisa S. Johnson)
- House of Blues Book
World Trade Shows
- NAMM Show Feature
Museums
Musical Instrument Museum
- "The Electric Guitar, Inventing an American Icon"
Museum of Design Atlanta
- "Wire and Wood"
Performing on stage and performing in hospitality share the same skills. They require training, rehearsal, preparation, and delivery. They also share the same end-result, which is delivering an experience that creates a lasting impression and will leave them wanting to come back for more.
These are pictures and videos of lasting memories that I helped create for others over the years. These memories are what inspire me to mentor others in the hospitality industry to do the same.
These are pictures and videos of lasting memories that I helped create for others over the years. These memories are what inspire me to mentor others in the hospitality industry to do the same.
From Stage to Service:
Where Every Performance Becomes a Lasting Memory
Where Every Performance Becomes a Lasting Memory
