Age 0–1 1977 — The Beginning
Born into a Washington County family that had been pulling traps and working the tidal flats for generations. Baby Downs arrived with a round face, big blue eyes, and an appetite that matched his father's.
A Downeast Life
FROM BABY TO LOBSTERMAN TO MUSICIAN
The East Family
Ma and Pa had weathered hands before Downs could walk. Ma kept the house together while Pa kept the boat afloat. The whole family lived by the tides.
Age 9–11 1986–1988 — The Mudflat Years
Kid Downs ran the mudflats, picked blueberries, fought with his sister, and dragged his little brother by the collar through every adventure. Gap-toothed grin and a borrowed clamming hoe taller than he was.
Summer, Downeast Maine
Sister ran the show. Downs was her reluctant second-in-command. Little brother just tried to keep up. Three kids, blueberry fields, and zero supervision.
Age 16 1993 — First Day on the Sweet Marie
First day hauling with his father on the Sweet Marie. Too lanky to be useful but too proud to show it. He learned fast. By summer's end he was a sternman.
Now — Lobsterman & Musician
Still hauling. Still Downeast. The guitar came out because some things you can't explain to your wife in words — you need three chords and a chorus.
— THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY, 1985–PRESENT —
Three generations on the water.
Every song is a tide-line.
