Gene has a lifelong love of theatre, both as a performer and as a teacher to students of all ages. Much of the music and

  voice in here came from Gene. He is a veritable encyclopedia of genres of music from classical to deep South blues. He

  doesn't just read and write poetry; he feels it. He reminds us that the first poems were sung, and that music, more than

  any other art form, controls the ebb and flow of human emotions. He says, "That is where the writing of poetry came

  into my life. Shakespeare was the foundation that supported Dylan and then my own poetry—words of joy, sorrow, love,

  and humor opening the heart and mind."

  Ed also loves music. Long story but he landed in Vietnam at age 20.  

There he met Dave Nye, probably the biggest influence on how he viewed writing, music, and poetry. He wrote his first

  poem in Vietnam. His taste in music changed from pop rock to harder rock. Ed worked in advertising and sales but still

  wrote in his free time. Ed was injured and uses a wheelchair and kept working. He retired and called Dave Nye, a musician,

  and they began writing songs – Ed the Words, Dave the music. Dave got studio-tired so Ed hooked up with John Mindock

  and they collaborated on quite a few songs. Enter Gene Ptak and the Poetry Sounds collaboration. Ed says, "Gene taught

  me how to dig in and feel the words; how to read them aloud. I will be forever grateful to Dave, John, and Gene."

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