Page 12 - ION Indie Magazine MayJune 2018 Issue

GA: My grandmother. She's the foundation to
Photo credit: Marty Haviik
my world. She took me in before I was even 1

year old. She gave up her later years of life just
for me. She was already in her mid-60s. Talk
about being unselfish. And just saying, “I want

this young boy to have the best opportunity
for his life, so I'm gonna give my life, in a

sense. To raise him. To teach him.” And of all
the things that she taught me -- first of all, the
difference between “needs” and “wants”. We

grew up very, very humble. I wanted a lot of
things…but I didn't need for them. I knew I

had her love. I knew we had a shelter. We had
food here and there and we’d have steak

every uth, not even a wooden spoon. Our spoons
every once in a while. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mo
were our hands, you know. Again, just the fact that she taught me those things -- and trying to be balanced in

life, mentally and emotionally, physically and spiritually…that foundation. Just be around her, learning from

her. I can remember us sitting down just sewing. I mean, how many musicians nowadays can say, "Yeah, I sew,
man.” I sew, why? My grandmother told me it's important. She said I should learn to cook. “Don't depend on
anybody. It took a woman to teach me how to be a man, not a man and I tried to honor her as much as possible
in everyday life and in speaking about her in interviews like this. A while back I played for the (Arizona)
Diamondbacks. I played for about fifty thousand people. I was amazed! They gave me my own jersey. "What

number do you want?" “Number 8!” And they're like, “Why 8?” My grandmother was born in 1908 and that 8,
for me, is a very symbolic number. But also, turned sideways, it means “infinity”. It's like because of me, my

grandmother will always live on. I try to honor her in stories, music, and just everyday life. Who I have become,
hopefully, is the reflection of who she was.

MH: Let me ask you this…are you from Tucson?
Photo credit: Marty Haviik

GA: Originally born in Texas.

MH: Is that why you're a Dallas Cowboys fan? Did

you get a chance to watch the Cowboys/Redskins
game this past weekend?

GA: Oh yeah, brother -- for life! What happened?
Did they win? Awesome. Cowboys beat the

Indians. I should be happy, but sad. I feel so
conflicted. (laughing)

MH: I try to stay out of politics because we can
get stuck on this merry-go-round of debates and
nobody wins. I am passionate about what I
believe and I'm sure you are too. I'm going to

throw this out to you -- how do you feel about
the recent activities regarding the pipeline and
protect the water issues?