And the Welcome everyone to So the Jaker on songwriting, episode 233.

Joining us today is a tremendously talented Grammy-winning American singer, songwriter,

composer and pianist.

Across an amazing four-decade career, he's explored vast swades of musical terrain

and performed and recorded with the likes of Leon Russell,

Bonne Ver, Boni Rait, Pat Matheny, Bramford Marsalis, Don Henley,

Maver Staples and Bob Dylan.

His most recent studio offering is the superb afflicted.

The final part of a typically adventurous musical trilogy that began with 2019's

absolute zero and continued with 2020's non-secure connection.

And let me tell you, we were in no way flicted about having this guy on the show.

See what I did there, Simon?

I saw.

We're thrilled to welcome the wonderful Bruce Horns beat of the podcast.

Our guest was born in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1954. He initially took up piano age 7,

but amusingly enough it failed to hold his interest. A few years later inspired like so many

kids of that generation by seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan he took up the guitar. A keen basketball player in his early teens, he returned to the piano around the age of 17,

inspired by the likes of Leon Russell and Elson John, whose songs he would pick out by ear.

Bruce went on to study music at the University of Richmond and then attended Berkeley

for two semesters before enrolling in the jazz program at the University of Miami, from which

he graduated in 1977.

Upon returning to his hometown, he cut his performing teeth in local clubs and

...