When he was nineteen, MCA/Decca signed him to a contract that yielded two albums, New Blues and Time to Fly (the latter featuring Chick Corea), and he began touring the country as the opening act for Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, Three Dog Night and The Doors, among others.
When he was nineteen, MCA/Decca signed him to a deal that produced two albums, New Blues and Time to Fly (with Chick Corea), and he began performing across the country as an opening act for prominent bands like Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, Three Dog Night, and The Doors.