As long as I can remember I have had a deep connection with music. Even as a very young child I was fascinated with the guitar. I have vivid memories of visiting my parents’ friends’ homes and there would be a guitar on a stand. I would stare at it and attempt to strum it until told to leave it alone.
The Monkeys were very popular and I had a phonograph and one of their first albums. I wore that record out! I could not wait for Saturday mornings to watch their T.V. show. Dreaming one day I would be like them!
I also love to sing. I would dress up in crazy “Hippie Clothes” and go into our garage and pretend I was a rock star! Belting out the songs of the day like American Women by the Guess Who.
My parents and extended family were also very musically inclined. My Mom sang in the church choir. My Dad played our electric organ. Both of my Grandmother’s were very accomplished piano players. In the car the AM radio was always on and we all sang along with the music of the day.
In the year 1975 I was in the 7th grade. Intro to Guitar was offered as an elective. My parents said yes I could take the class and they rented me a nylon string entry level guitar. I excelled quickly and the rest is history.
My sophomore year in high school I purchased my own electric guitar. I also had friends into playing guitar and we would hang out sharing songs and teaching each other what little we really knew how to play. A chord change here, a riff there. I practiced all the time! I also started attending concerts. Growing up in Southern California meant every big name Rock and Roll artist came through and I saw so many of the greats.
The artist that most influenced me at the time were ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Robin Trower, Lynard Synard, Neil Young and Ted Nugent. The ZZ Top album Deguello for me was a game changer as it introduced me to electrified blues. In particular, their version of the classic Dust My Broom literally knocked my socks off! I about blew my Dad’s speakers out listening to that record!
During my college days I played constantly and joined a few different bands. One of which I was the front man. Singing all the songs and playing both lead and rhythm guitar. I loved doing that!
In the early 1990’s I purchased my own PA and started to really grow as a solo performing musician. I landed some gigs in Park City and continued to learn new music and grow my song list. It was also during this period that I joined up with a bass player who would become my biggest mentor and help to propel my career forward as a professional musician. Together Brad Armstrong and I formed the band Fastback. We made a CD in 2004 and played a ton of gigs together with several different drummers and saxophone players. We loved playing the blues but hit many other music styles including Rock N' Roll, Alternative and Folk. Brad and I are still performing together to this day!
Over the last decade my inclusion of “The Loop Pedal” into my act has also been a huge game changer. I have embraced this tool and it has completely changed my guitar playing abilities. I have become a much more accomplished player because of it! Incorporating live looping and loops I have pre recorded into my shows has been a game changer. It enables me to perform way more complex music with the addition of lead guitar and harmonica over the top of the live and stored loops. Using a Loop Pedal quite literally exposes every weakness of one’s abilities as a guitar player. Like playing with your pants pulled down! I could not imagine playing solo shows without it!
I have played well over 2000 gigs during my 35 years of performing professionally. The majority of those have been as a solo act. My longest tenured gig has been performing for The Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley Utah. I have played both summer and winter seasons for them for 20 years. Pretty crazy!! Nearly one third of my life! I have also played many venues and outdoor summer festivals with my band Fastback. Looking forward to playing many more.
Outside of playing music, I am an avid outdoor sports enthusiast. I Ski and Snowboard an average of 50 days a season. In the Spring, Summer and Fall I enjoy Surfing, Mountain Biking, Skateboarding and Golfing. I left SoCal in 1984 and moved to Steamboat Colorado to pursue my dream of becoming a Freestyle Skier. I was a “Bumper and a Jumper” in the early days of Freestyle Skiing. A job in the Ski Industry landed me in Park City in 1988 and I have remained in the area ever since!
Thank you for taking the time to view my website and for your consideration of having me perform for you at whatever event or venue you might have. Over my 35 plus years of performing professionally I have played every kind of gig imaginable. I always show up ahead of time and give my audience 110%. My playlist is well over 200 songs including covers and originals. Something for every kind of audience!
Warm Regards,
