He played the piano "all his life" until one of his hunting dogs damaged his left hand so badly that he was unable play to the high standards he set himself. That, plus the fact that the piano isn't used in bluegrass music encouraged him to begin playing the dobro.
He formally played with Backlash, another local band,leaving it on friendly terms due to 'artistic differences'. He then began to form what eventually became Outback.
He has a unique style of playing similar to that of a banjo picker which is a large part of the sound of the band.
He sometimes looks gruff onstage, but that is only due to his intense concentration on his playing.
