This ready to hang, gallery-wrapped art piece features Muhammad Ali standing in the center of the frame.Born in Springfield, Ohio, I enjoyed an �artsy� upbringing. My father was an illustrator in the Air Force � a renaissance man of sorts. He had a local reputation as a sign painter, architect, portrait painter and athlete. He had me catching softballs and drawing horses and hair by the time I was 4. My mom sang and played piano in her church choir, and she taught me to sing in harmony, although I passed on the piano, which is where my brother excels. My sister drew, sang and has exquisite taste in interior design. In time, though I love both. I grew more artistic than athletic and sang in gospel groups and choirs and fronted many bands, including one in Iceland during a Air Force assignment. Drawing was great, but it took a back seat to music during most of my 20s. That all changed in an instant while laboring for the DT&I Railroad one day while helping to rip out an old railroad track with a pick axe.
