AUSTIN, Texas -Buddy Gill confesses to being a closet guitarist. With a personal collection of 20 guitars and a complete home recording studio, this senior vice president of advocacy for the Texas Credit Union League is passionate about his music. Gill began playing guitar at 14 years of age, played swamp rock/funk with "The New Aviators" and "Id Factor" while attending Tulane University, and has since doggedly pursued his hobby, despite moving around the country to follow his career. He plays blues, rock, jazz, just about anything, but he's not too fond of country. His guitar collection includes acoustics, electrics, a bass, a Dobro lap guitar, and vintage Fender and Gibsons. "If I could have only one, it would be my Fender Stratocaster. I also have a magnificent Collings acoustic, made here in Austin. I keep it with me at the office." Gill jokes that he has a guitar for every woman he's dated and says he has aspirations to write and perform a one-man play someday about dating in the context of guitars. "They're all different," he said referring to women and guitars, "even when they look alike." The Austin music scene enticed Gill to accept his current position coordinating the Texas League's legislative, regulatory and political initiatives. Although he travels too frequently to play with one band, he does pick-up sessions at local clubs. "I would love to get back to a Saturday night gig that is inviolate," Gill said. "I do think I've found my home, though. Where else can you conduct politics during the day and 12 blocks away play in a band at night?" Gill played at several North Carolina Credit Union League Annual Meetings with other credit union industry notables: Truliant CU's Marc Schaefer, a "Dylan-esque" songwriter, according to Gill; CUNA Mutual's John Tripp; First Carolina Corporate CU's Dave Brehmer; and Blue Flame CU's Ben Hill. "Political strategists are always talking about the future and looking ahead. With music, you play in the moment. You shut off the brain and let the emotions take over. `I play just what I feel,'" Gill said, quoting from Steely Dan's song, "Deacon Blues." -

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