Simon was born in San Francisco in 1956, and grew up in the North Beach neighborhood during the 60's and 70's. He listened to a wide range of music, including the sounds of a local garage band who played several nights a week at the Tarantino's just a few houses down.

Simon studied violin in school and, in his teens, taught himself to play the banjo, mandolin, dulcimer and guitar. He played contrabass balalaika in a touring Russian music group, his introduction to playing bass.

Simon graduated from UC Berkeley (1978 Music) playing fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, banjo, and electric bass in the San Diego-based band California Breezes, and then fiddle and bass in the Texas-based folk-rock group Celtic Stone.

He moved to North Carolina in 1989, continuing to perform solo and with the groups Tuppence, Global Village Garage Band, and as a guest performer with other groups.

Simon's musical influences are ecletic, running from The Beatles and Beach Boys to American, Irish, and Scottish fiddle music; from Rockabilly to Bluegrass to vintage Jazz, Classical Music, and old TV themes.

Simon teaches at Fuller's Music in New Bern. He and his wife have twin toddlers, Albert and Susannah - and yes, Sara and Simon do own a minivan. Is a red sports car in Simon's future? "No, I'd prefer a red Stratocaster!"

In the Retro Rockets, Simon functions primarily as a bass player and singer. His baritone guitar has the full range of a 4-string bass. And, he occasionally picks up a red Stratocaster for a surf tune. His penchant for onstage humor, zany tunes and musical high jinks come into full play in every Retro Rockets performance.