Music


Roland RD-300


Roland JV-80
I play the piano, organ, accordion, drums and a little harmonica.  I've composed, arranged and conducted music for groups ranging from a small combo to a 50-person orchestra, including acting as musical director for an original performance while in school.

Practicing at home		 I performed at Carnegie Hall (in the Chamber Music Hall, now the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall) when I was 6 years old, and again when I was 7.  During my teen years I was the backup organist for our church and played in a couple of garage bands too, of course.  While I was in the Navy I played keyboards briefly with the Rock band T.F. Mutch.

(click on a picture for the full-size version)
Carnegie Hall
Click Here To Visit My MySpace Page
Branded Just For over eight years I played keyboards with a Country band called Branded Just (left).  I also sat at the drums for some Rock 'n Roll sets.

After Branded Just, I was a member of Southern Yankee (Mostly Classic Rock, some Country), Detour (Country - my first time signing autographs.), Aerie (Adult Contemporary Rock), Sagebrush (Country), Slyder (Country/Classic Rock),Diamondback (Country), and Liquid (Rock, Adult Contemporary Rock).  I've also played for several weddings and parties.

Today I play Country Music in the Nashville area with Rhett Campbell and the Common Strangers Band.  I'm available for private events and informal jam sessions and as a substitute drummer/keyboard player.  I'm also available to work on personal recording projects and for studio work.
Sagebrush I've sat in with a number of bands -- either at shows, studio sessions or jam sessions -- on either keyboards or drums.  I've played keyboards or drums in several styles: Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Oldies, Contemporary Country and Classic Country.  Some Jazz & Blues too, but I don't feel I'm particularly strong in those areas.


I can play a double-bass drum set.  I can play fast.  I can play loud.  I can play slow & quiet too.  Most of all, I play very well!
 		Detour
In 2001 I arranged and played all of the instruments for a 12-part backing track for a local vocalist to use in performance, as well as produced the addition of her vocal tracks for a demo version of the song.  The song was Chantal KrevIazuk's "Leaving On A Jet Plane" from the Armageddon sound track.  I'm currently working on arranging instrumental versions of Mason Williams' "Classical Gas" and "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris.


What will I *not* do?  I won't play rough clubs.  If there's chicken wire in front of the stage, forget about it...  I'm not comfortable around obnoxious sloppy drunks (on stage or off).  Small stages are a pain in the neck - my equipment takes up as much space as a well-equipped drum set.

I'm drug-free and I don't smoke.  Sometimes I'll have a drink at a show, but I stay straight.  My equipment is not available for use by others... don't ask.

I love playing (free) benefits, but if there are several bands involved then we'd better actually get to play.  I can't handle standing around waiting for our turn while the other bands do their thing, then the auction or something else takes up the rest of the time.  The day then becomes a waste of time, and it's happened too often.

I won't ever play talent shows or contests.  I don't play to show off, or to compete with others.  I play to entertain others and myself.

I'll travel anywhere to perform if the price is right.  I'd love to open for a national act, and touring is not out of the question (again, if the money is right).  Right now I haul my equipment around in my minivan; there's too much stuff to fit into even a large car.

I don't suffer from stage fright while performing, but don't put a mic in front of me.  The noises I make could never be mistaken for singing anyway.  Even if I could sing, I don't know how people sing & play an instrument at the same time.  I'm pretty coordinated, but that's too much.
Party Time I thoroughly enjoy listening to a good Bluegrass band.  Anyone who can play the steel guitar, mandolin, banjo or flat-top guitar well will automatically gain my respect.  Celtic music gives me chills.  Classical music strongly influenced my early years, but I don't play or listen to it much these days.

I read music from a score, chords/lyric sheets and a little tablature.  I'm not great at learning/playing by ear, but if I woodshed for a while I get it down.

I don't like working with people who consistently fail to practice between rehearsals, or people who think they don't need to rehearse at all.  I don't like excessive delays or chatter during rehearsals, recording sessions or shows.  Guitar players who constantly tune & re-tune their instruments also irritate me (broken-in strings and a good axe will solve that problem).  Musicians who can't take cues from their bandmates (turnarounds, tempo adjustments, etc.), or bands that play a well-known song badly, but try to cover up by saying "we're giving it our own style".  Drummers who only know one drum pattern, can't cross genres, can't keep the tempo, have either no energy (or too much energy).  I'll keep the real horror stories to myself, but there've been a few.

Oh yeah, and I have a problem with the word "gig".  I don't know why.
How serious am I?  Oh I'm plenty serious, but not so serious that I can't have fun.  There's a reason why it's called "The Music BUSINESS".