Tyler Greene is a man of many talents and influences.

The Millsboro musician sings, DJs and plays the rhythm and bass guitar, along with the drums, keyboards, synthesizer and “basically anything with strings,” he says.

He also writes his own songs — about 200 in all — but doesn’t stick to any one genre.

“The first song I wrote was a jazz song. But I’ve written funk songs, rock and metal songs, indie rock and ballads,” he said.

The 26-year-old jack of all trades will perform Saturday at the Great Pumpkin Food Truck Battle at Big Oak Park in Smyrna. The event, to benefit the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation, runs from noon to 5 and will also feature local bands Bad Juju Blues and Party Fowl.

Mr. Greene, whose main instrument is the guitar, didn’t even take up the instrument until he was a senior in high school.

“There had always been a guitar in the house. My dad played but mostly just for his mental health. I always had an interest in music but I suddenly found an interest in the guitar around my senior year,” said the Sussex Central High alum.

Mr. Greene is self-taught on all of the instruments, can’t read or write music and learned music theory on his own.

“It got to a point where I realized I could play anything on the guitar. Then coming fresh out of high school, I didn’t want to sing. I wanted to be a guitar player. But I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to sing so I did it myself more out of necessity,” he said.

“Now I seem to get complimented more for my voice than for my guitar playing.”

The topics he writes about are as varied as the instruments he plays.

“I’ve written on a lot of world-view topics — world peace and hunger or anti-war. A lot of big picture songs. I also have really personal songs that I would never tell you what they are about,” he said.

He says the music he wrote as a teenager still holds up for him.

“Some of it is really good. I judge it on the audience still liking them. Some of it is a bit simplistic but that doesn’t necessarily make it a bad song if people like it,” he said.

People seem to be responding to his music as he says 2019 has been his busiest year yet.

“I couldn’t tell you how many gigs I’ve played. But living in Millsboro I’ve been done a lot of gigs close to the beaches. But it’s also nice to start to get more acclaim in the middle of the state and upstate,” he said.

“I’ve been able to go back and forth a lot. I’ve been working with Gable Music Ventures in Wilmington and they have been able to use me when they need me up that way.”

Blue Earl Brewing in Smyrna has been a hot spot for Mr. Greene as well. He’s played regularly in the brewery, was on the bill for the recent Shazizzle Music Festival and was hired by Blue Earl founder Ron Price for Saturday’s food truck event.

“Tyler is an undiscovered super talent. He has an extraordinary vocal range with an amazing falsetto,” said Mr. Price, a longtime musician.

“Tyler is an exceptional song writer, vocalist and guitar player all wrapped up in one. This guy has what it takes to go places. Mark my words.”

His entry into the world of a DJ is new, having started this past summer on Sunday nights at The Pond in Rehoboth Beach.

“I figured I could do it. I asked the venue if I could try it out and it worked really well. I tried it a bit differently where I didn’t just come out with a deck and mix songs,” he said.

“I played live instruments along with the remixes that I made. It was a bit of a different experience. I saw it done at different concerts that I saw and it looked like fun.”

Mr. Greene says he’s thinking about taking some time off this winter to get a band together and to record some of his original music. He has one previously released CD entitled “With an E,” named for the fact that people often misspell his last name.

As for the long-term future, Mr. Greene says he’s in this music thing for the long haul.

“There’s nothing else for me. I just want it to get bigger and bigger. I love the things that I’m doing. I know people all over the country. So I’d love to get a tour going to develop a family of people to hear my material,” he said.

During Saturday’s event, eight food trucks from The Rolling Revolution will battle for the best pumpkin-inspired dish. Blue Earl Brewing and Painted Stave Distilling will also be there as will fall activities for the kids.

Entry is $5 and 100 percent of the door admissions, 10 percent of food truck sales plus $1 from every drink purchased goes to support the science-based programming at DASEF. Donations are also accepted at http://bit.ly/DASEFDonate.

DASEF’s mission is “to inspire and educate the people of the Delaware Valley in learning about science, space, technology, engineering, Earth’s environment and mathematics through the use of our academies, presentations, symposiums, professional development, events and activities and the resources of the Environmental Outpost.”

For more information, e-mail dasef.outpost@gmail.com or call (302) 834-1978.

First Friday

During today’s First Friday activities in Dover, the Downtown Dover Partnership Merchants Committee will launch Shop Downtown Dover. This new promotional “passport,” available at participating stores during First Friday activities, invites shoppers to visit an array of downtown merchants. Decorated shop windows will provide a backdrop to the evening, rain or shine, and the People’s Choice winner of the downtown merchant window decorating contest will be announced.

Weather permitting, outdoor activities will take place as well. Bands Fuzzbox Piranha and The Mad Dabbers with be in the street, all while attendees enjoy the craft and wine beverages, food trucks and vendors from 5 to 9 p.m. This will be the last street closure for 2019.

The First Friday Gives Back donation program continues as merchants contribute a portion of sales from 5 to 8 p.m. to Meals On Wheels Delaware.

The Downtown Dover Partnership seeks vocal and instrumental musicians, as well as visual, culinary and performing artists for December’s First Friday activities, and is programming now for calendar year 2020. To learn more, visit: Tinyurl.com/DoverArtsAlive. Buskers are also encouraged to perform outdoors, voluntarily with a tip jar, and can learn more and sign up at: Tinyurl.com/DoverBusking.

Many activities will take place tonight indoors including:

Dover Art League – Two Event Family Night - Paint your own ceramics workshop from 5 to 8 p.m., $35 per person, which includes a piece of your choice and all the glazing materials, with no additional fee to fire. Walk-in’ are welcome, though pre-registration is recommended: Tinyurl.com/DALceramicsNov2019.

Students from Wesley College’s Science Club will set up a table for elementary-aged school children and provide simple hands-on science activities and demonstrations

Dover Public Library - In Harmony Concert Series features singer-songwriters Steffi and Tim for an evening of jazz, folk and original songs from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Delaware Store and Parke Greene Gallery – Americana-themed music by Mike Miller on acoustic guitar and poet Linda Blaskey reading at 7 p.m. and signing her books. Light refreshments will be served.

Grey Fox Grille and Public House – Music by Darin O’Neil on keyboard and acoustic pop music from the 90s; DJ begins at 9 p.m.

House of Coffi - Singer/songwriter Rick Hudson will perform on guitar and harmonica with a focus on blues, old time country and contemporary pieces.

Simaron Steak Shop - Featuring live music by Earl Reed, an easy listening singer/guitarist with an eclectic mix.

Amillion at Wesley College

Dover-born hip-hop artist Amillion will perform an unplugged show at Wesley College Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The free show will take place at Wesley’s College Center Building, Room CC 206.

Wesley students will open the show.

‘The Bluest Eye’

Delaware State University’s College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences will present the dramatic production of “The Bluest Eye,” today in the Education and Humanities Theatre on campus at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The theater is handicapped accessible.

“The Bluest Eye” – a play based on the novel by Toni Morrison and adapted by Lydia Diamond – follows Pecola Breedlove, a young, black girl, as she navigates the concept of beauty.

The show features DSU student thespians Zaire Davis as Claudia, Elia Agudo as Frieda, Chloe Humphrey as Pecola Breedlove, Mozella Matthews as Mrs. Breedlove, Chioma Uroegbulam as Mama, Bianca Leconte as Maureen Peale, Adrienne Hospedale as Cholly, Dymere Roper as Soaphead Church, Anthony McIver as Daddy, RogJenea Fisher as Woman 1/Darlene, Alycea Sharpe as Woman 2, and Jasmyn Gordon as Woman 3. “The Bluest Eye” is directed by Dr. Shirlyn H. Brown, adjunct theatre professor.

Viewers should be warned that there is graphic imagery and sexual content: viewer discretion advised.

Admission is free for DSU students with valid IDs, and $5 for the general public. For additional ticket information email sbrown@desu.edu.

Now showing

New this weekend in theaters is “Terminator: Dark Fate,” the suspense drama “Motherless Brooklyn,” the Harriet Tubman biopic “Harriet” and the animated family comedy “Arctic Dogs.”

On DVD and download starting Tuesday is “Fast and Furious Presents Hobbes and Shaw,” the horror film “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” the comedy/drama “The Art of Racing in the Rain” and the female mob drama “The Kitchen.”