 His mother, a real estate agent, played piano, and his father, a 2018 Inductee into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame who held jobs as an auctioneer, mason, and barber, played bluegrass guitar.Early in his career he was offered a position at Opryland USA after an audition.However, he was deep in debt at the time and had to turn down the offer because he could not afford to move.