Who We Are & How It All Started

At ‘Songwriters and Cereal,’ our goal is to create lasting father/son memories, while seeking out songwriters, adventure, cereal and fun. We hope you’ll decide to join us on our adventures as we travel multiple highways and country backroads, showcasing some of the finest songwriters and performers, across this country! 

About Trusten

1975 had just given way to 1976.  Prior to lacing up our sneakers, at our mega important 9th grade basketball games, it was customary to hang out with friends at my best friend and teammate Steve’s house. One unforgettable day, Steve pulled an album from his burgeoning collection and situated it on the Singer portable 2-speed turntable that had become at the time, the center of his universe.  ‘As sudden as a bolt of lightning’ the room was electrified with the nasal-wailing, inimitable sound of Bob Dylan singing ‘A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.’  My young mind, all of age 14, couldn’t fully comprehend what world I had been transported to, nor could it comprehend the degree to which my musical world would soon expand…All I knew for sure was it was a voice and words and melody like none I’d ever heard before!  While my taste in music has branched out in a multitude of directions since then, I suppose you can track my appreciation for music, lyrics and the songwriters that create those mini-miracle moments, to that very day.  Forty-plus years later, drawing from an undiminished passion for music and a strong desire to create lasting memories with my artistically talented son, ‘In Search of Songwriters & Cereal’ was born.  It is our hope that you’ll tune in and journey with us, as we traverse the highways and backroads of this great country to talk to and showcase some of the emerging and accomplished songwriters and talented performers in middle America…oh…and yes…maybe enjoy a bowl or two of cereal along the way… 

About Jake

Growing up, I always had a love and appreciation for the arts. When I wasn’t out playing sports, I spent countless hours drawing pictures of my favorite superheroes and athletes. As I grew older, and began working professionally both as a high school art teacher and an artist, I realized how much I loved all things creative in general.

Although I don’t have any musical talent myself, I have a huge appreciation for anyone who does! Musicians are one of my favorite subjects to paint and draw. I also like to think that as an artist I can relate to the creative process, the risk taking involved, and the necessary entrepreneurial skills that it takes to succeed in any creative field.

I also love traveling, live music, meeting new people, and making memories with my dad, so all of this fits well with those…Oh and of course I love cereal, in all of it’s variety and sugary goodness. It’s the simple things in life!

 Cereal

As Jake said…it’s the simple things in life!