Sal Treppiedi
My name is Sal Treppiedi, and I was born in Brooklyn, New York, February, 1963, to Italian immigrant parents. I have lived on both coasts, but now call New Mexico home. I am married to Debbie, a wonderful woman with a beautiful soul, and have a 13-year-old daughter, Calle, who never stops amazing me, and is a budding poet herself.
After spending many years in the music business wearing several hats (mostly as a publicist and writer), I became an educator and have worked as a middle school language arts teacher for the past 13 years. I have written in one form or another for most of my life from the Laurel & Hardy-style play in 6th grade to feature articles about Metallica, Mike Rutherford of Genesis, David Coverdale of Whitesnake and Chris Squires of Yes. It wasn't until the late 90's following a painful separation and divorce that poetry became a part of my life. I began to use writing as a means of understanding who I was, my place in this world, and how I have seen that world.
In 2000, I stumbled upon my first poetry slam at RB Winnings (now known simply as "Winnings"). I remember Kenn Rodriguez asking me to judge, and, in turn, asking him to perform at a poetry event I was starting at the middle school I worked for. It wasn't long before I found myself sucked in. I performed sporadically (to less than stellar results), attended other slams (anyone remember Insomnia?), and started writing more.
I am currently working on a manuscript for my first chapbook, entitled "Random Thoughts of An Obese Mind," and, after much procrastination, as well as lots of searing on the grill of perception, will release it from captivity in 2007. I also publish "The Great Beyond," a blog on independent music.
Website: www.freewebs.com/burquepoet/
Blog: The Great Beyond: http://greatbeyondmusic.blogspot.com