Meet Woody Woodcasters. He is the President & CEO of Woody Woodcasters Custom Exotic Wood Guitars & Basses a custom made exotic wood Guitars & Basses. He started a One-Of-A-Kind instruments company that come with a matching custom finished wood. He is a professional musician of Double Threat, the national Touring Tribute To Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: I was up in the guitar room and all of the mass produced instruments that I owned where covered in plastic. Then I wondered what would the guitar sound like if it didn’t have those plastic parts and everything is made up of exotic hard woods. We started to seek out friends of mine and I started seeking out fine American craftsman that did this kind of work. Because they were selling their stuff on ebay, they were getting pennies on the dollar for what their stuff was worth. The idea was to pay what their stuff worth and build one-of-a-kind guitars. I’ve built guitars for people who I can’t even mention who they are because they have contracts with giant guitar makers. But when they get together with friends, not in public, they pull out a Woody Woodcaster. Al guitars are available on www.reverv.com
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in North Tampa, and what do you love there?
A: My favorite restaurant here is Tomo Sushi Japanese Restaurant and that’s where I met my wife.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in North Tampa?
A: Since 1960. I came here against my will when I was an infant.
Q: Who’s had the biggest positive impact in your life?
A: My parents first of all because they supported me about everything, taught me to take it easy and motivation.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: I always want to go to the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. That’s such an amazing place, they make ridiculous automobiles. It’s not too far from the Lamborghini factory, so you can kill two birds with one stone. And half of my family is Sicilian.
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: I quite enjoy the black and white movie Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. That was a precursor movie to White Christmas. The one in black and white was made in 1941, and it was made in black in white because all the color film was being used for the war effort. It was such a sleeper movie that they decided to make a sequel of it 1946 when Hollywood color came back.
Q: What would be your best piece of advice about life?
A: Life is too short to drink cheap beer. I like Samuel Adams.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I think I’d like to do some more touring because I had a lot of fun in the 1990’s. I toured as a keyboard player to Double Threat in the national touring to Stevie Ray Vaughan. We were the only tribute band that was allowed into the great state of Texas to play Stevie Ray Vaughan music. It’s a little different now than it was then because now you can do flying tour not getting into the van and that kind of stuff. It’s insane.
Q: What is your favorite music band? (dead or alive)?
A: I’ve worked for everybody from Frank Sinatra to Pink Floyd. I’ve always had a soft spot for Stevie Ray Vaughan. Just that kind of music and the way you play that kind of stuff.
Q: Did you ever take music classes or did you learn on your own?
A: When I was five years old my parents said if you’re going to play music you have to start to learn piano but I told them I wanted to play drums. Then they said if you learn how to play the piano, you be able to easily how to pick up any other instruments. Now I play 14 different instruments.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about North Tampa?
A: With 30 miles from here I can be in St. Petersburg, Largo, Cleawater, Dunedin, Hudson, Riverview, and Brandon. In 45 mins I can be in Lakeland. The amount of live music venues within 40 miles from here is incredible. There are few places like this here. There are thousands of Blues fans and a lot of Blues going on here.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: I’m a freak for a really good old Warner Bros cartoons.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Peace and Quiet.
Q:Do you know a lot of people here in North Tampa?
A: I know a lot of people but a lot of people I know either moved away or died. Social media allows me to stay in touch with a lot of people that moved away but it’s not like we can sit down, have beer and jam together.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: I’m a fan of Mitzi Gaynor but if I am going pick somebody that is alive right now…it would be Queen Latifah who has shown to be an amazing artist and a musician.