My love of music began in fourth grade with violin lessons
and the school orchestra. I then played saxophone in the
junior high band and briefly took private piano lessons. At
the age of 16 I found and old electric guitar in my
grandfather's closet and started learning how to play. In
those days, I learned and listened to mosly hard rock and
heavy metal. In my early twenties I played in the popular
Chicago alternative band Huckleberry and the progressive
hard funk/rock band Lukka Brazi. Around that time, a friend
turned me on to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
My love of blues was immediate and the impact was profound.
I dove headfirst into the Blues and began learning the
styles of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, and The
Allman Brothers; as well as drawing from other forms of
music such as gypsy jazz, country, and fusion. In 1997-2000
I played with the blues/jam band Vida Blues, which has
played everywhere from the Taste Of Chicago to Famous
Dave's Blues and Ribs to numerous shows at Life's Too Short
and a weekly stint at Lilly's. After leaving Vida Blues I
performed regularly with local muscian (and soon thereafter
wife!) Stephanie, doing acoustic-duo shows all over
Chicagoland. I began honing my acoustic guitar, finger
picking, slide, and resontor chops and performed as a solo
acoustic blues musician. I also began filling in as a side
man for great Chicago blues performers like Dawn O'Keefe
Williams and Ronny and the
Rockits, as well as doing shows on both guitar and bass
with Jen Dainton.
Stephanie and I moved to Orlando in 2003, where we've been
busy with lots of things. While we do an occasional show
I've been focused on writing great songs, playing guitar,
and learning engineering as I try to get those songs ready
for the next album.