From Drummer to Artist: Glyn’s Inspiring Journey

It was a very special person’s birthday the other day.

We met in 1976. he was the most amazing person I had ever met. I have written about our chance encounter in a previous blog: Encouragement I don’t want to repeat myself but you may not have read that post and this story deserves to be told. Glyn, aka Guy Deadly, was a rock drummer when we met. He had chucked in his electrical apprenticeship to pursue his dreams, which was a bit of a drawback, as far as my parents were concerned.

We fell in love and that was that. Glyn was the most vibrant person I had ever met. Full of dreams and ambition and a wild passion for music that swept me along for the ride.

There were tours with famous bands like The Beach Boys and Joe Cocker, many TV appearances and even crazed fans to deal with. He took it all in his stride and received two gold albums which he had dreamed of since he was a young boy growing up in the suburbs of Adelaide.

It wasn’t long before we married and moved to the Dandenong Ranges to raise our family. Two years later, Glyn survived the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983, by the grace of God, and he tells that life-threatening tale well.

His encouragement and positivity is legendary and I know he will be missed, by everyone he works with, when he retires later this year. He’s a wonderful dad and a really lovely grandfather. The games he played with our children, making them squeal with delight, are now being played with the next generation.

He is a boots and all kind of guy and his passion is now veering toward a new creative area. He has discovered a talent for drawing that has even surprised him. You can check out his artwork on his new website. glyndowdingart.com Glyn is now taking commissions for pet portraits. His prints are also available to buy. He sold his first artwork almost as soon as the exhibition opened.

In his spare time, Glyn is writing a book about his years growing up with, fellow band member, Andy Durant. The book is bursting with stories of all the antics they got up to as kids in Adelaide during the fifties and sixties right through to the rock star years in the band Stars. You can check out a couple of the music clips on his website. glyndowdingart.com

He has another book in mind as well although it is still in the planning stages. This one will be something to help anyone starting out in business. The book he would have loved to have when he was fresh out of the band and into the corporate world. More about that later.

It has been a joy to watch this man evolve and adapt as life has placed different demands on him. He is a drummer, a dad, a grandfather, a husband, a friend, an excellent drum teacher and a valued colleague – among other things. Throughout it all he has been fiercely loyal, and stubbornly faithful. A true man of integrity. That’s why my heart responded all those years ago, the day he stood in the doorway of my flat, with that cocky smile, wearing his favourite cowboy hat.

I’m now working hard to convince him to include a space on his website where people can come and learn from him about the art of drumming and to discover the way he has worked so effectively in the business world. I think it would be a shame for other people to miss out on all that enthusiasm and encouragement. Wish me luck!

What is your story? I’d love to hear how your life choices have led you to where you are now. Leave me a comment and let me know.