The facts of my life (as I see them):

-born October 12, 1960

-1967 or 68, got first guitar, a Stella/Harmony tenor 4 string, I still have it. Shortly there after got my first lesson from my Aunt Mary Eleanor. I think I only got 1 or 2 lessons from her.

-1970 or 71 got a Bolero electric for Christmas and a tiny little amp with a 6 inch speaker. I thought it was great. Also got a chord book from Leslie’s Record Land. I still have that, too.

-I had a hard time playing other peoples stuff, so I started writing songs right off the bat with what chords I could figure out. Spent the next few years hanging out with and learning to play with my friends Dale Stewart and Billy Fiorvanti.

-1980 or 81 formed a band called The Border (after the Jack Nicholson movie)with Billy on bass and Joe McGavin , which morphed several times into me, Joe, Frank Brill and (my brother in law) Max (bass).This was my first real gigging band. We started out at the infamous “1872 Club”. We played a lot for a couple of years. Mostly Beatles, CSNY and other poppy stuff of the day.

- Mid 80’s played with a country band whose name and, other players, I don’t remember.

-Late 80’s formed a band called Max and The Beaver Dugans. Probably the most fun band I’ve ever been in. We played a lot, partied a lot. We called ourselves a blues band, but we played a lot of different stuff and were sort of a jam band. Went through a divorce with this band, that was fun. Also started Flat Rabbit Productions, started running an open mic at Blackford’s Crossing (which ran for 3 and ½ years on Tuesday nights).

-early 90’s together with Lisa Lafferty started “The Renegade Radio Waves” which went through several variations and several line up changes over the next 8 years, the constants were me, Lisa and Ed Barney. We played electric, acoustic and everything in between. That band played a lot and all over the place. After Blackford’s, around 92 or so, Lisa and I started the Tuesday night open mic at The Meck. An incredibly long running and successful open mic still going to day (with new hosts).

The Waves finally broke up for good in 2000. I learned a lot in those years.

-after the waves, I wasn’t sure what to do. Booked a gig at Ed’s Beer and Wine and asked my friends Dave Hines and Steve Kemp to come play with me. This was the start of The Todd Coyle Trio. We never really officially formed or broke up. We just get together and play sometimes. However, it did produce my first official recording in the 2002 release of The Todd Coyle Trio’s “I Told You This Would Happen” CD. Went through another divorce with The Trio.

-2003 started recording what eventually became my first solo record.

-2004 released “Just Let Go” CD

-all through the years I played in many pickup situations, ran several open mics in various other places, ran sound systems for lots of events (including an eight year stint with the Jefferson County Fair) and recorded with various folks.

-I am a member of SAW (Songwriters Association of Washington)

-member of the Jefferson County Historical Society (has nothing to do with music, just sounds good)

-I work full time for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

-was a finalist with two songs in Billboard Magazine annual songwriting contest in 2003

-2006 recipient of the Krewe of Percey Award

-2007 released 3rd CD "Chop Wood Carry Water"