I was raised in Cleburne in the heart of Johnson County. My first live performance
was in the 8th grade talent show. From that point on I was hooked, I knew I had to
play music. In high school while everyone was sacking groceries after school, I played
at the American Legion and the local clubs on the weekends. After high school I married
at the tender age of 19 and played music for a living at local and out-
Still addicted to
drugs and alcohol at age 22, I married again while making my living as a musician.
As my musical career progressed so did my drug addiction and alcoholism. After years
of being on the road, destroying my marriage, and my family on July 29th,2004 I found
my way into recovery from drugs and alcohol. In order to get clean and sober I had
to be willing to give up the one thing I loved more than anything else.....my music.
I was desperate to get clean, so I walked away from a band that was on the verge
of every musicians dream...making it.
I've been sober since July 29th 2004, and through
it all my wife of 14 years is still with me. After all these years our marriage is
finally stronger than ever....a true miracle that I thank God for everyday!
Today
I devote my life to my children, my wife and to God. After walking away from music,
I never dreamed that I would be playing again with a band called No Regrets for God;
clean, sober and happy. In the beginning of sobriety a man told me once that if you
give all your material desires and obstacles of sobriety to God that He will always
take care of your needs and make your dreams come true. Everything that I lost because
of drug addiction and alcoholism has been replaced ten times greater than I could
have ever imagined.
So go fast, take chances and put God in the driver's seat and
you can't go wrong!
Che Hightower
Bass Guitar