Music has been good to Daniel Mark Faller.

The Lewiston resident, who has been playing in bands since 1975, recently released "La La Land," his sixth CD as a solo performer.

"I'd always been interested in music since I was a kid," said Faller, who grew up in Seattle and moved to Lewiston in 1972.

His earliest introduction to music was through his older brother's 45 rpm record collection. Whenever his brother went on a date, Faller would sneak up to his room and listen to records like Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson.

Then he saw the Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

"When I saw that on Ed Sullivan I decided what I wanted to do," he said. "Much to my parents' chagrin."

He traded in his clarinet for a Fender acoustic guitar, and he hasn't looked back.

"I started learning Bob Dylan songs and that kind of thing," he said. "I just kept at it, and that's what you have to do."

Faller has played several styles of music over the years. The first band he got involved with after moving to Lewiston was the Stretch Wabash Band, which at first was pretty much straight country and western but later evolved into a Southern rock-style group.

After that he was a member of the Seidel Brothers from 1982-92.

"We did Bruce Springsteen. We even did a Flock of Seagulls," he said of the band's music.

"We broke up in '92. I tried to quit playing music but I couldn't do it."

Currently, in addition to his solo act, Faller is a member of the groups the Big Newtons and Spiral Highway.

"I had dreams of stardom like every other musician," Faller said. "But I'm happy being a big fish in a little pond."

While with the Stretch Wabash Band, Faller went on tours as long as 10 weeks.

"I quit touring in 1982 and said I'm going to base it right here," he said. "It's been a good run, right here in Lewiston."

Faller, 60, who is a workforce-training specialist at Lewis-Clark State College, plans to retire in about five years and move to Portland.

"When I retire I'm really going to dive into music," he said.

One of Faller's biggest idols is Texas-based singer Joe Ely. He watched Ely perform recently in Pullman and requested "Hopes Up High," an Ely tune that is on Faller's new CD.

The CD also has several songs by Robert Earle Keene, another of Faller's idols.

"Robert Earle Keene, he's my ultimate singer," Faller said. "Someday I'd like to put together a five- or six-piece band and go out and play that kind of music."

No matter what type of musical outfit he finds himself in in the coming years, Faller said as long as he can play music he'll be satisfied.

"Everyone needs a hobby, and music is a good one," he said. "I'm going to play as much as I can. I plan to play until I can't lift speakers anymore."

Faller's CDs can be purchased on his website, www.danielmarkfaller.com.

Solan can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 235, or by email at asolan@inland360.com.