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Born in Baltimore to a family of drummers dating back to the War of 1812, he began his career at 11 playing on a collection of metal trash cans. His musical education started by listening to his older brother's extensive record collection while he was out gigging. Later that year the cans gave way to a bass and snare drum and a hi-hat. He played trumpet in the school band, began piano studies, and the following year put together what would be the first in a succession of bands playing local parties, youth dances, proms, and a series of March of Dimes benefits.
Four years of High School chorus and continued local work directed him to begin studies with teacher Frank DiGiorgio. Just after graduation he started playing in regional clubs on a full-time basis and joined the Baltimore-based group "Coyote". That led to a lot of touring and a marginally successful independent album release. While at "ITI" Studios he had the good fortune to meet and work with multi-Grammy-winning engineer/producer "George Massenburg"("Little Feat", "Billy Joel", "Journey", "Linda Ronstadt"...). During that period was another independent release and more commercial studio work with George.
After several years in the studio and on the road he returned to Baltimore and began another phase, moving on from the predominately pop and rock of prior years to standards, jazz and improv. While continuing full-time work at hotels, supper clubs, and private events with duos and trios, he still found time to appear with "Martha Rae" and "Charlie Byrd". He began studies with "Ed Shaugnessy" student Dave Tucker and broadened his education further with "Walt Namuth"(guitarist with "Buddy Rich") who gave him a totally different approach to the drumset from a melodic perspective. He even took on several students of his own. Reaching back to his pop/rock roots he joined another group opening a tour for "The Ravyns"(former "Crack The Sky" members). Next it was on to "J J Rocks", the Virgin Islands, a tour of Western Europe, opening for several national artists including "Dennis Yost and the Classics Four" and backing shows for "Jonathan Edwards" and "Livingston Taylor".
His next stop was Wash., D.C.. Looking to take a break from the years of road work, thru a contact at "Cellar Door Productions" he accepted the positions of Assistant Stage Manager at "DAR Constitution Hall" and later, Stage Manager at "The Bayou" in Georgetown.
He did all advance work as well as monitor and house sound for several hundred national acts("BTO", "Al DiMeola", "Brian Setzer Orchestra", "Tower Of Power", "Kansas", "Jay Leno", "Guns 'N Roses ", " Dr. John", "Steve Morse", "Bill Bruford's Earthworks", "The Chili Peppers", "Little Feat"...). A year-and-a-half later it was time to get back behind the kit and back on the road.
The next several years were spent working with Nashville and Ogden/Salt Lake City-based acts "The Amarillo Cowboys" and "Hired Gun" at top country venues in the Southwest("Toolie's"-Phoenix,AZ; "The Museum"-Flagstaff,AZ; "The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar"-Jackson Hole,WY....), as well as opening for several national acts including "The Rascals".
With the impending break-up of "Hired Gun" , via another contact he was off to Las Vegas. The group "Passion", firmly established for many years and working major casinos and hotels, state fairs and corporate venues nationwide, offered him a chance to utilize his extensive experience. The opportunity to perform everything from Big Band, Classic/Alternative Rock and Dance/Techno to Hip-Hop, Motown, Country and R&B during every show was too good to pass up. (A childhood dream had been to succeed "Ed Shaugnessy" as drummer for the "Tonite Show Orchestra"). During this time the group opened for a number of national acts ("The Tubes", "Ray Charles"...) as well as releasing their first CD, "In Your Dreams".
After several successful and rewarding years, a terminal immediate family illness prompted a move back to Maryland. A gig with vocalist "Clay Hunt"("Peaches 'N Herb") was waiting in the wings and went very well for over a year, but then he received a call from "Passion".
He rejoined the group, touring with them for several years, again working opposite acts such as "38 Special", "The Village People", "John Anderson", "Wayne Newton", "John Michael Montgomery", "Chicago", ...
Returning again to the Maryland area due to another pair of immediate family illnesses(one terminal), he became involved in several independent projects and also full/part-time work of interest.
Finishing up with personal business, he relocated to the Milwaukee/Chicago area, and rejoined "Passion" at the end of February, 2009.
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