Picture a porch at dusk, the weight of the world feeling heavy. Then, a melody starts—a simple, honest ballad about the courage to believe in yourself when no one else does. It’s a song that finds profound strength in simplicity, mapping the journey from weathered doubt to worn-in hope, and leaving the listener with a feeling of warm, unwavering positivity.

Believe In Yourself

Music was my first language, a passion that took root even before I could properly form words. By fourteen, I was already sealing envelopes, sending my demos out into the world with a teenager’s hopeful desperation. I spent years trekking to office buildings, dropping off those tapes, until I landed a meeting with the late, great Morris Levy. He was the first to call me out on what he saw: I was all over the map. Opera, Bluegrass, and everything in between—I had no distinct genre, just a deep, abiding love for sound.

That eclectic ear was forged in the Southern Baptist church, where I was taught piano for one reason: to ensure the choir always had a musician. I played that role faithfully until a single, accidental experience—attending a service on acid—shook my faith in the institution, though never in God. It was a turning point among many too numerous to mention.

Morris Levy saw my chaos not as a weakness, but as a strength. He suggested I stop trying to fit into a box and instead build my own. He was right on point. So, being who I am, I turned away from hip-hop and rap and dove headfirst into the rock market. That leap of faith became Cheektowaga Records, an entity that has since grown into many things.

To many in the industry, I’m a villain; to others, a savior of sorts. And unlike most executives, I write the majority of my own releases—except for the few that I don’t. But don’t mistake me for another Frank Farian; my operation is built on a different kind of alchemy.

The work you hear today started as unpolished demos. It has taken a lifetime to hone them, and the polishing is a process I’m still deeply immersed in. A more detailed story is coming in a book, but for now, recognize this: I am not "gay," I am Vince. And Vince is a man of many contradictions, one who would never disparage anyone for the choices they make—or the choices that chose them. To each his own.

Trust me, I have lived an interesting life. Read the book. As for the music, enjoy it or not—we all have our preferences.

(And Ryan… when you pass on, I’m throwing the biggest party you’ve ever seen. That’s an inside diss, y’all.)

Believe In Yourself

Cheektowaga Music and Moving Pictures