BIOGRAPHY
Originally from New Jersey, I am a guitarist, singer/songwriter residing near Philadelphia, PA. In 2011 I released my second CD of original music, ”It’s All Timing,” via CDBaby and it is currently available at most major music sites, including Amazon.com and iTunes, along with my first release, “No More Waiting.” They are also available for listening at Rhapsody, Spotify and other music streaming services.
My music is a blend of pop and rock with some progressive and blues mixed in. Influences include Rush, Peter Gabriel, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Mark Knopfler and many others.
I entered the world of music at a young age, drumming on sofa cushions and pillows with mom’s knitting needles, and driving Hot Wheels on dad’s LP records. Mom got me started on piano lessons first, then guitar around age 10. My father procured a silver sparkle Ludwig drum kit from a neighbor shortly after, and very shortly after that — when the combined banging of drums and the blare of distorted power chords on my first electric guitar proved too noisy for them — my parents asked me to choose: guitar or drums. I chose guitar and it has been my main instrument ever since. Note: I have since purchased a new drum kit :)
Throughout my teen years and early twenties I wrote and recorded original music on various studio incarnations, overdubbing with a tape deck and boom box through a cheap Radio Shack mixer. Drums were typically beats from a Casio MT-45 keyboard, but one time I used a cardboard box with a sheet of paper on it to simulate a snare drum. It kinda worked.
In the mid-eighties I began sequencing music with an Apple II GS, and stepped up to better drum machines and multi-track recording a little later. My Harmony H60 and a cherry red B.C. Rich were my main guitars for most of my early recordings.
For a better part of the ’90s my long time music partner and collaborator, John Frawley, and I performed as a duo around various bars in Northern New Jersey, mixing original songs into sets of popular classic rock covers. Our original song “Far Away” first appeared on a CD compilation of local north New Jersey talent called Local Color.
I released my first collection of songs, including a remastered version of Far Away, on the CD No More Waiting. My equipment list has improved over the years and I record everything in digital these days.
Listeners have mentioned that my music is reminiscent of Dire Straits combined with elements of Elvis Costello, Tom Petty and Bob Seger, with some progressive mixed in. Most of my lyrical ideas are taken from my experiences in life, but sometimes things just pop into my head and don’t necessarily have much to do with me.
I generally enjoy writing upbeat rock-pop songs, and I like playing with words. When I write, the lyrics start with a general idea and then often just flow because a rhyme scheme leads to new words and new ideas.
So, in my studio… As I mentioned early, I sadly parted with my first drum set so long ago but I have happily added a vintage Slingerland kit to my list of studio instruments, which also include a Washburn N2, PRS Tremonti SE, 70s Greco Les Paul Replica, Harmony H60, Tanglewood TSB 59, Schecter Stiletto Exotic Bass, 2 Alvarez acoustics, a Yamaha acoustic, Takamine C-132S classical, a Yamaha PF-80 electric piano, an Ibanez GX-100 amp and Fender Frontman R25 (which kicks ass), along with assorted pedal effects.
I was born in Japan in ’67 (dad was in the USAF). My father is Latvian and my mother is of English descent. I get my technical skills, interest and aptitude for all things techie and mechie from my Dad. The creative side, writing and music, comes from Mom. I thank them both for giving me the best of their worlds to enjoy, and for being good role models and great parents.
Read more...