Rock the Troops interview!!

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Thursday, September 03, 2009


Interview with Arthur Gonzales
Category: Music

Arthur Gonzales is a dear friend of mine and one of the reasons Rock The Troops has exploded in size and continues to do so. I created this site with my sister-in-law Angela at my brother Jason's suggestion. I was interviewing bands/celebrities for his unit's FRG website and wanted to reach more of our military men and women. With an energetic son and moving from base to base I became the sole operator and it was difficult..not because I don't have passion and conviction for the project but more do to my lacking website skills.

Thankfully Art brought a gusto and know how with his experience and know how that has breathed new life into the site. I'm so very lucky to have him involved and in my life.

So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to the man behind the scenes, my VP if you will...Art "Rock Dawg" G.



RTT: Tell us how a kid from Roswell, NM became the awesome guitar god you are today?

AG: I don't know about being a guitar god, there's a lot to live up just saying that I play guitar. A 14 you old kid with youtube and a lot of practice time could kick my ass if I'm not careful!! They can get free lessons all over the net these days or top notch lessons from the best for a small fee now, and all online. I am one of the last of the old breed that had to do it all the hard way.

It's going to sound corny, but I went trick or treating at the ripe young age of six and when I came home, KISS Meets The Phantom was on TV. It was powerful enough that I dropped my loaded bag of candy on spot and went to the TV. I even said, "Hey mom...", and pointed at the TV, "...that's what I'm gonna do when I grow up"!! I actually started banging on pots, pans, books and setting them up in my room to play drums. I begged for a guitar and was given a really cheap one for my 8th birthday.That's when my parents, at least my mom noticed I was able to hear the notes and pick them out.


RTT: What is your music experience? Exciting anecdotes?

AG: I remember as a little kid performing with my class for the school and parents. We always were singing songs I didn't understand the meanings to. I remember one song called, "Hold on". I swear that to this day I don't know if it's a slave song or a church kind of tune, The lyrics were about holding on to the plow and it being the way to get to heaven, really deep for a 6 year old kid to sing!! I later got into the school band. I also had discovered KISS, had a cheap guitar and had the sealing factor in my musical world that made it clear I'd go into music, The Beatles. So then along with learning trumpet formally, teaching myself guitar and the start of formal vocal training, I was begging for piano lessons. My dad thought that was weird, especially cause I'd go get into fights and play football, break bones and things like normal guys. He was the manly man and though music boys weren't tough unless you were cool like the music he liked!!*lol* So there was actually a mix of formal training and self taught training. With ADHD it was really an accomplishment!!

Exciting anecdotes? Wow, I have a million places I could start!! I've fallen off of stages, big speakers that I've climbed on, and fallen over myself. There's road stories, but because there's a new chapter in my musical world, i might hold off mentioning anything until something Earth shattering happens.Then i'll sell it for $5.95 in paper back form!! *lol*

RTT: What are your feelings about our military men and women?

AG: Our military men and women are so special to me, My dad was in the navy and I have plenty of other family members that were in some form of armed service. There's also friends of mine that I've grown up with involved there, and some went on to build their lives on the military. When it comes down to it, these people took thier time to find their own way there,and those men and women did it to protect our rights as Americans. I love what they do and that they do it without question. Those men and women doing what they do so we can do what we do are heroes. Each and every minute they serve so a free child can be born, a spoiled ass MP3 jacking teen can bitch about not having the car for the weekend, to the humble multi-mega-billionaire can go off and work at a 7-11 to feel like a normal person. It's all because our military men and women protect us and allow us to make choices of our own. the fight for our rights to become the people we are. Without them, our country would be nothing. They allowed me to be the wrathchild I was and become musician and be a dork, I couldn't thank them enough.

RTT: How did you come to get involved with Rock The Troops and what are you most excited about?

I got involved RTT when a friend of mine told me that you (Karma) were doing things with music, and she knew I was as well. She wanted me connect with you, and see if we could help one another out. I never knew that just catching up with you we'd be able to work with one another. For those out there that aren't aware, you and I grew up in the same town and had some of the same friends. We hung out together with those same people from time to time. So during our time of becoming new/old friends we found that there was a lot of common ground to stand on and the next thing I know I am being asked to be an artist playing with some of the greatest people ever.I can't say that there's on single thing i am most excited about because there's so much going on within it all. I could close my eyes and put my finger on a map and it's never the same daily. That's how it is with Rock the Troops.I'm not certain as to what I can go public with just yet. There's a lot of hush hush great surprises kind of things being thrown into the fire right now and it's all really exciting. There's a lot of great things going to happen, album talks are on the way, and working with people from different areas in the music world. I'm looking forward to seeing where that's going. I'm looking forward to working with DJ Skribble and DJ Barry Carrew and throwing down the tunes!! Each and every person involved are top notch pro's and I'm more than lucky and honored to be part of their musical world.

RTT: What would you like to say to our men and women of the military?

AG: I first would have to thank them all, and then thank them again because there's never enough appreciation for my life and freedom that can be expressed. I'd love for them to know that they are, each and every single one of them, special and are going far past the calling. They are the reason why we can create music, actors act and our country can be run by smart people, idiots or farm animals!! They allow us to be the greatest country on the planet. We are one because of them. They are every single reason why America is the mighty country it is. I am who I am because men and women served and continue to serve our country and allow me to be the best me I can be!! I am now, and will always be supportive of them. To all the men and women of the military, I thank you for allowing me to live in a free country and be who I am. Without all of you, we are nothing.