Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Floyd.
Hi Randy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in North Carolina learned to play guitar at age 13. My teacher was a Bluegrass banjo player. As a teen I played in many Rock N Roll bands. I appeared on TV and radio as a teenager. I joined the military at age 18 and ended up in Shreveport Louisiana where I joined several different country music bands. During this time I signed with Soundtrack Records and released 3 songs. In 1980 I signed with Magnolia Records, went to Nashville and recorded using the top session players of the day. The drummer was D.J. Fontana who played with Elvis Presley. My first release Beautiful Lady charted in 3 cities. That led to a return trip to Nashville and a record deal with Soundwaves Records. During this session I used legendary session musicians who played on the then current song of the year “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones. This led to being asked to appear on the Louisiana Hayride where I became lifetime friends with musicians Joe Spivey and Shoji Tabuchi. In 1987 I moved to the DFW area and formed a Southern Rock Band, Special Delivery. This provided the foundation for my current band The Traditional Blues Band. The Traditional Blues Band is a 5 to 7 piece Blues band that specializes in the old traditional Mississippi delta and Chicago Blues. I am having the time of my life!!!!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My poverty infused childhood was a tremendous challenge. I joke that my parents would have been alcoholics except they didn’t have enough money to buy alcohol so they were just drunks. The old house I grew up in was a basic unfinished frame with no indoor plumbing. Clothes were hand me downs and food was scarce. If things got really bad as they often did I could go stay with my Grand Parents 5 miles away. At least there was a bath tub and food to eat. My father was a high demand carpenter who made great wages until he fell from a two story building, landed on rebar that was placed around the building. He lost a lung and eye and his short term memory. This happened in the early 40’s so there was limited medical technology but he survived and outlived all his doctors. He was about 90 when he passed away. I saw things when I was a kid that no kid or adult should see when a house full of drunk men were chasing after my mother and she wasn’t running very fast if you catch my drift. We will just leave that right there. I am writing a book based on my childhood. The title is “I could have been Charles Manson”. It is based on the premise that kids today think the way they turn out is because they didn’t have all the latest and greatest things growing up. I say BS if that was they case I should have been a serial killer. Oh well. My dream mechanism was inadequate to dream my life. I have been blessed beyond anything I could have ever dreamed. I have accomplished every goal I ever set way beyond my expectations.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I spent 10 years in the Auto Parts industry and was like a sponge learning everything I could. I then used that knowledge to obtain a job with an insurance company where I stayed for 17 years. I started at the bottom writing estimates on cars. I accomplished things that were unheard of because I refused to allow any limitations on my skills. If I was given a job I would figure a way to do it even if I was totally in the dark as I often was. I will give you an example of what I am talking about. The process when I began was to write an estimate then give it to an “adjuster” to resolve the claim. If there was a question or dispute there was a cumbersome communication between the adjuster, myself and the vehicle owner. I believed this was a very poor way to do business. So when I wrote an estimate I assumed the role of the adjuster on my own and discussed the claim with the vehicle owner and repair facility, resolved any questions or disputes at the vehicle. I would then simply tell the adjuster to write them a check. You guessed right everyone wanted me to write their estimates. I continued the process and became the first adjuster without the required college degree. I was then promoted to supervisor and received a corporate relocation to the regional office in the DFW area. I was later assigned to a national project and worked out of the home office in New York. I was in high demand because I was the solution. Give me a problem and I will come up with a solution. All this time I was still playing music on the weekends and burning the candle at both ends so to speak. I had a wife a 2 kids and bills to pay so I came up with solutions. When my company was purchased I was laid off. I used the opportunity to double my salary and promote myself to Vice President. I ventured into areas of expertise that I had zero training for and succeeded beyond what anyone expected. I retired at age 60 and expanded my music. I am having more fun and great times than most.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am not a big reader other than online articles. I haven’t followed any podcasts or blogs
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