I began studying snare drum with Bill Northrup, the Seabreeze High School band director at age 10 in Daytona Beach,Florida; working on rudiments and reading on a Ludwig practice pad with 2B sticks. I won a church talent show playing "Hawaii 5-0".
A month or so later I received my first drum, a Ludwig Acrolite, which I proudly still own today and would never sell,
it sounds great. Just ask Kenny Arnoff or Peter Erskine.
About six months later I got my first drumset, a Ludwig in blue sparkle,and studied drums with Bill Tawlson for about a year, learning my basic beats.
I took summer band before junior high and it paid off because the newly formed marching band had all freshman drummers and only had room for two seventh-graders, myself and Neil Johnson.
I placed third in all-county concert band in eighth grade, edged-out, by one position, for all-state band by a drummer who had studied with Buddy Rich.
I attended Florida Summer Music Camp and was chosen for the top concert band two years running. I auditioned and was chosen for jazz band my second and final year.
I was lucky because I grew-up with a circle of drum- buddies including Steve Gard, Kevin "Zay" Tweed, Mitch Sanchez and most notably Neil Johnson,who lead me to my jazz drum mentor Vic Dery of Boston.
In high school I was involved in concert and marching band playing bongo/timbale cluster.
At age seventeen I auditioned for and was chosen, along with Jerry Cruitt, for the D.B.C.C. Big Band under the direction of
Fred Dean, a Maynard-esqe trumpet player, who had his own band during the big band era. Two years later I graduated under scholarship with my Associate in the Arts Degree.
At age nineteen I relocated to Los Angeles to study at Musician's Institute (P.I.T.) with Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey,
Steve Houghton and Eddie Roscetti. I also picked-up a few pointers from Jeff Hamilton, Peter Donald, Chuck Flores, Gary Hess and Maria Martinez. After graduating with a degree one year later, I took a few lessons with Casey Scheuerell.
Now twenty, I began playing with original rock band Bsharp and blues bands such as the late J.J."Bad Boy" Jones and
Jay Gordon, recording a few albums with Jay.
I formed Soulfood one of L.A.'s mainstay club acts from 1988-1995 backing-up the Platters, Jimmy McNichol and others. Two members, "Guitar" Jack Wargo and Charlie Harrison went on to perform with John Forgerty.
Studio-wise since '90 I have worked on over 2500 sessions as a drummer or engineer/producer. From '95 - '05 I had the pleasure to work with many of the greatest musicians, engineers, and producers in the world as a staff engineer at Capitol Studios.
I started my home studio DrumShrine in '98 and have played drums, engineered and produced various demos and debut records. As of, 2004 I continue to play drums live and on sessions.
"Tarzan" (Phil Collins)
James Taylor - Christmas
J.J."Bad Boy" Jones
Jay Gordon
Jimmy McNichol
The Boneshakers(John Fogerty)
Soulfood
Bashirrah (Lion King)
"Guitar" Jack Wargo
Gerald Johnson
"Seeing Other People"
ProTools LE - 32 Tracks
Digidesign 001
Alesis Studio32
Hafler 6.5" powered moniters w/ Subwoofer
Joe Meek VC3 ProChannel
Octava MK-319 microphone
Sony 40x CD Burner
Yamaha SPX90 II
Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer
Gretsch drums
various FX, mics, & percussion.
[email protected]