I was born in San Diego and raised between San Diego and Yucaipa, California. My mom sang and played guitar and bass with Tex Ritter and CMA founding member Smokey Smith. My dad played fiddle and lead guitar with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys and also worked and recorded with Capitol Records Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame artist Merrill Moore. Together, my mom and dad wrote and recorded their own original songs with Crystal Records in Los Angeles (1949-1956 under the names Jean Davidson & Johnny D