After many years of singing and playingguitar, bass and mandolin in bands, duos and solo at clubs, lounges, schools, corporate events, private parties, ski resorts, festivals, cruises and more -- throughout western Washington and beyond -- well, it’s all gotten a bit simpler, now doing all solo stuff and marking my 500th solo show in June of 2023. And simple’s a whole lot of fun.
I play both steel and nylon-string electric/acoustic guitar and often use a looping pedal to layer guitar parts. Guitar and vocals go through a quick-setup solo PA system, and with a mic, mic stand and a few cords, it’s all good to go. It all comes together in a tidy little package that works very well for clubs, wine bars, pubs, coffee houses, lounges, parties and special events. It's a blast, and an honor to play for every audience.
Music's in the family. My mom and dad met in a lounge, way back when, when one of my dad's friends bet him that he couldn't get a date with the singer in the band -- my mom-to-be. Well, he won that bet, obviously. My mom was a pianist, played a bit of ukelele -- and an amazing singer. She won the northwest regional tryouts for the Metropolitan Opera, in fact -- but chose to have a family instead. My dad, well, he loved music too, and was a darn good whistler. We always had music in the house, ranging from Nat King Cole, Montovani and the West Side Story soundtrack to the Beatles, top-40 AM radio and country radio too. My three siblings (all older) all played at least a little bit of guitar, so although I originally started out playing drums, I really had no choice in the matter. Today, my two sons continue the tradition, both being excellent and award-winning musicians in their own right -- one on guitar, one on the drums. Proud dad here.