TJ was raised mostly around Rochester, NY and took to the piano and guitar early. By 9, he and his 8 year old best pal were making tape recordings of their playing on a Panasonic cassette recorder. They began making up their own music individually and together - moving up to bouncing tracks back and forth to boom-boxes, Fostex 4-tracks, Tascam DA-88s, and then DAWs. The chronology of influences went something like: Peter Gabriel, Ozzy, AC/DC, Billy Squier, Eurythmics, Van Halen, Queensryche, Information Society, Yngwie Malmsteen, Yanni, Joe Satriani, Tangerine Dream, Steve Vai, Chili Peppers, Phish, INXS, Michael Hedges, Metallica, Alanis Morrisette, Dave Matthews, Duran Duran, Radiohead, Beck, Cake, etc. The common threads through most of these artists is an emphasis on rhythm, interesting arrangements, and great production.
He kept writing and recording through college, "earning" a BA in Music and Minor in Music Business from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in northern NY. This classical piano education, theory study, and electronic composition broadened his tastes, skills, and range. Playing in numerous cover bands, working in music stores, and teaching lessons kept him earning money. One of the more noteworthy events was playing with corporate rockers Nik and the Nice Guys at the Barcelona Olympics.
He's made about 150 original recordings, and even more in collaboration with other artists. In the early 2000s, he scored/produced a few corporate videos, and more recently a TV commercial, Internet TV show, short film, and feature film. His work has screened at SXSW, the Alamo Drafthouse, and the Dobie Theater in Austin, TX where he has lived since 2006. In 2009, he spent two weeks in Atlanta at the Outkast's recording studio earning a certification in Pro Tools audio software. He continues to write and record for others and himself in his home studio in Northwest Hills.
- BA Music, Minor Music Business
- Certified Pro Tools HD 8 Operator in Music
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