Music has been a constant part of my life for as long as I can remember. Born in 1961 in Baltimore Maryland, the ukulele was the first instrument I was handed at the age of 3. A retired research scientist turned winery owner, my dad is an accomplished musician, having sung professionally during his college days. Mom is a former educator and retired post office executive, who taught tap dance in her earlier years. Both were (and still are) avid music fans, and always encouraged all musical pursuits.
By age five, a 3/4 size four string guitar had replaced the ukulele. By seven it was an old Framus six string. Piano lessons started about that time, accompanied by the clarinet at age eleven. Age twelve saw the start of guitar study with Northwest guitar legend Paul Chasman, an association which heavily influenced the development of my current style of playing. During high school the tenor saxophone was added to the instrument list, on which my first professional "gig" was performed. College was spent (mis-spent??) as a clarinet performance major at Portland State University.
Songwriting was a skill I decided to try at age eleven. I couldn't stop! I've been writing songs ever since. In 1997 I was blessed with the opportunity to pursue music full time. Since then I have finished and released my first CD titled "Memory Years". Songwriting is the celebration of life around us. It expresses the breadth of human emotion. The songs we listen to don't care if we are happy or sad, up or down. They are always there to keep us company and give us comfort. To share my songs with those who would listen is my dream. To live this dream, is a blessing!
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