Nodd Morris has led a tumultuous life, but his lust to find an escape through the world of music has always been a constant through the dire straits.

The local singer/songwriter performs at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., at 10:30 p.m. every Tuesday, and anyone passing by Nittany Embroidery and Screenprinting, 310 E. College Ave., may hear his silvery, smooth voice coming from the bench in front, which he has dubbed as his turf.

From a small-town boy trying to break away from the norm to dropping out of school twice, Massachusetts native Nodd Morris has heard "symphonies of music in his head" through it all.

Self-taught and driven, Morris has been on his way to pursuing stardom ever since.

Dubbed "guitar boy" by locals, Morris said he is not about becoming rich and famous, but rather relishing in the sound of the music he plays.

"I don't know about being famous, but I definitely need to make a living and be successful enough to take vacations and have a house," Morris said. "I love music so much. I just have to perform and play. It's my slave, a necessity, my addiction."

Unique and flavored with many different genres, including reggae and pop/rock, his music also includes horns, pianos and tambourines, giving him an eclectic sound. His upcoming CD, Burning Bridges, offers a wide array of delicate piano solos, soothing guitar riffs and features Morris' melodic voice.

"This album has a lot to do with people you have to let go," Morris said. "You may like some people, but you have to move on because they bring you down."

Influenced by singers like Beck, Thom Yorke from Radiohead, and Paul McCartney, Nodd's voice is strikingly smooth, distinct and matured.

"I have a British delivery, and a lot of people make fun of me for that," he said. "For awhile, I started sounding like Radiohead, so I had to just stop and put them away. That allowed me to learn my own style."

It has not, however, always been smooth sailing for this recently reformed bad boy. A 22-year-old sophomore, Morris has had his fair share of run-ins with the law, including a short stint in jail. This is Morris' third time at Penn State, and he said he has had a "hard-knock life."

"The first time, I dropped out and went to New York City with 100 bucks in my pocket, a dream, a guitar and a suitcase," Morris said. "A week later, I had to go home, although I did end up staying in Max Weinberg's apartment, the drummer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

Morris then met fellow singer/songwriter Jason O, to whom he accredits a lot of his success. Together, the boys attempted to travel across country to be rock stars.

"We bought an RV, a 23-foot Class C decked out in Nittany Lion shit. We drove it to Martha's Vineyard [Mass.] for the summer and partied," Morris said. "After that, my dad convinced me to go back to school."

Morris came back to Penn State for round two and was kicked out.

"I didn't really ever go to class. I got kicked out, went home, went to rehab and then jail," he said.

Morris said he broke the mold in his small hometown where everybody knows everybody else. The former basketball player traded in his sneakers and ball for a guitar and a head full of songs.

"Basketball was first," he said, "but I decided to smoke cigarettes, do drugs and be a rock star."

Morris is back at Penn State for round three, and after a rocky road, Morris said his head is on straight this time, adding that he even made the dean's list his first semester.

"I'm doing well," he said. "I'm clean."

All in all, Morris said he just wants to be intimate with his fans through his music.

"It's important to build a connection with the audience. It should be an intimate setting," he said.