I was born in Jacksonville Florida in 1972. I began playing piano at the age of 8 on my grandmother's stand-up. She was the driving force to get me going in my music, and never tried to tell me that I was playing something wrong. At the age of 12, I started playing alto saxophone. I continued for a few years, playing in concert bands and marching bands. I eventually added the baritone saxophone to the list at the age of 15.
     The pivotal moment came when I was 16, when a high school friend, Adam DePaul let me hold his purple B. C. Rich custom Warlock bass. After 5 minutes, I wanted nothing else but a bass guitar. So, my very next paycheck, I bought a generic bass, and started playing 4 hours a day, along with going to school and working full time. Christmas of 1989, I bought an Ibanez EXB-404 (which I still own). I was playing in the high school jazz band by then, and teaching myself how to play bass, and how to read Bass Clef music.
     In 1990, I started my first band, Stone Edge, with Kenny Hamilton on drums, and Robert Prince on guitar. Not a bad band for a couple of under 18-year-olds.
     My senior year, 1991, I was in a one shot band for senior folies called Tuna Taco. We played "18 and Life", "Panama" and "Shook me all night long".
     After high school, I joined the band Paradox, which later became Pradigm, and finally Autumn Reign by the time we performed live. With Vince Brisciano on vocals, Gary Campla on Guitar, and Scott Fortner on drums, we sounded like Queensryche meets Alice in Chains meets Metallica. It was fun while it lasted.
     Afterwards, I went my own direction musically and personally, until I met Howie Smith in Germany. There, we jammed and performed a bit in a variety band for military functions, until we desided to put a cover band together, and do some gigs. And Liquid Hot Magma was born. We had Hector Munoz on lead guitar, Howie on rythym guitar, Dan Moyer on drums, and a variety of vocalists (too many to name). Eventually, musical differences sent Hector in his direction, forcing Howie and myself to cover the missing parts. Our sound was born! The lead/rythym bass guitar and lead/rythym guitar band of LHM hit the clubs.
     Once Dan left Germany, Howie called up his old jamming mates, Charles Young (drums) and Jeff Doyle (vocals). He had this great idea about making a band that played 80's tunes, in a new-punk style. Jeff played bass, but didn't want to play and sing anymore, he wanted to focus on being a front man, so Howie called me up, and I jumped at the chance. Size 9 was born. It was great fun, and because of all of the work I did with Howie, he asked me to play on his debut CD, "What Life's all About" in 2002. I also added my style to some keyboard work and guitar work, but my bass playing was finally on a product that could be bought from anywhere in the world. What a rush!
     So, fast forward to now. Howie is working on his next CD, "Midnight in Maryland" due out this year, and I am actually working on my first solo release due out this year also. It should be very exciting, and I hope that everyone that stops by here will look for it in their stocking this Christmas. (hint!)
     More to come!