"Can I play your piano?"

It was December 1986, and I was a student at Pan American University in Edinburg Texas and a member of the University choir. We had just had our Christmas concert, and a group of us went to this cool little bar, JT's, that had just opened in McAllen. We were at the bar drinking away like typical college students, when I noticed the GRAND PIANO at the corner of the room. I asked the manager If I could tickle the ivories a bit, and he seemed pleased, and said, "go right ahead!" I played a few tunes and got the bar singing and dancing! The manager came to me with the SHEET MUSIC to "New,York New,York" and requested that I play it! I said, "Sure!" and busted out playing the song as everyone at the bar got off their seats and danced. I turned to the LAST page of the music, and to my freakin' surprise, the MUSIC had been WHITED OUT! However, I kinda new the song anyway, and faked it pretty good. The manager, not knowing of my prior familiararity to the tune, was astonished as to how well I survived his little practical joke! He immediately approached me, and hired me as his HAPPY HOUR piano player. Thus began my SOLO career! I played at JT's for seven years. I would periodically bring in other musicians when I played on weekends. This pic features me playing the saxophone, which I would break out when I had a backing band. I bet you didn't know I played the sax as well, YAY! Actually, it's been years since I've played my sexyphone:) Also in this pic is MIke Gomez on Bass, Tony Martinez on drums, and The Manager who hired me, John Simon, playing his kazoo!! Thank you to Elvia Rios, from my home town McAllen, who sent me this pics and brought back some wonderful memories. I love my life! Love, jd

p.s. comment if you think I should go back to the 80's MULLET! :)

All you need is LIFE!!! da, da, da, da, da!

This photo is of my favorite Singer/Songwriter ELLIOTT SMITH!!! I implore you to check out his music!! On second thought, if you're gonna continue to be a J.D. Mata blog disciple, "heehee," Elliott Smith listening is a requirement!!! Here is what's going on! Life in Los Angeles is in session, baby! Since my last post, I've been to a McDonald's commercial audition, a Compass bank audition, and several film auditions as well. I've been playing music at Ernies, Cafe Amsterdam, and at Monty's steak House. I've been editing the Wedding Video I filmed, and I'm set to, 'Director of Photography,' a short film this weekend that I was hired to shoot! Oh, this Wednesday, I'm recoding original acoustic music and an interview for an online radio station, www.THEIRMUSIC.com- I'll keep you posted when that airs. Also, in the BACK, middle, and FRONT of mind, I'm trying to figure out the shooting days of my next feature film THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE!!!!!! Here is the deal, I HAVE TO START this film at least before the year ends. FUGUE FILMMAKERS are required to shoot at least ONE film per year for the rest of their lives!!!! At least to START one!!!! Is this to much to ask? NO!!!!!! I LOVE my LIFE!!! & I love you, too!!!! Love, jd

HA! I Love Hollywood and it LOVES me...NOT!...oh,YES!!!!

In my last post, "Raise high the roof beams, carpenters," cause my head was in the CLOUDS, having just a booked a Doritos Commercial! National Exposure on T.V., Baby-RIGHT ON!!!. I was to play a musician in a band. "Memeber, joo memeber what I WrOtes!"
Well guess what, at the 11th hour, I got down graded, demoted, etc... to an extra. They told me something to the effect that they were reducing the number of band memebers, and I got the axe! So, I sit here on the SET of the actual commercial with a bunch of other "Stars in their Eyes" hopeful extras. We wait to be called to the sound stage as our role is to cheer, scream, and idolize the mock band on stage in which I once basked in that GLORY!..They've just called us. This is a legend in the making, BABY! heehee...I love my life and HOLLYWOOD! love, jd

A LONG WAY DOWN.... short film i'm in :)

I've just been cast in a short film as, J.J., a musician who has decided to commit suicide because his music career has gone nowhere! His method is to jump from a tower, and when he gets to there, three other people are there to jump as well. This screenplay is based on the novel A LONG WAY DOWN by Nick Hornby! We shoot next week. I LOVE my LIFE!! love, jd
P.S. I know what you guys are thinking, J.D. doesn't even have to ACT to play J.J. haha...