Musician, Band Leader, Recording Artist

 

     I have been a semi professional musician for over four decades, and have received two Grammy nominations. Starting with a high school rock band who played Santana covers, I brought some cheap curio shop drums back from Zambia, where my parents lived at the time. The drums sounded terrible, but it wasn't long until I replaced the drummer.

Since then I've always played drums or percussion in a band, up until about five years ago when I took a break from live gigs and touring, to concentrate on producing music for my own 2D animations. 

     I have played in big band, rock, punk, funk, classical, reggae, latin, world, pop, disco, and jazz fusion bands. If it has a beat, I want to play it.

     Notable bands include The Brown Paper Bag, a cover band I founded in 1985 in Atlanta. We played weddings a for a few seasons until some visas ran out.

     Turbid Blue, from Atlanta continue to be the most inspiring and enjoyable band Ive ever been in. Long time friends since 1985, and keen followers of a wide and eclectic taste in music. We played the Little Five Points Pub where The Indigo Girls and Bruce Hampton & ARU were regulars. Some fans described us as Atlanta's Phish. Among the bands we opened up for were Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Tower of Power. We are planning new recordings next year. 

     In 2000 Missouri while living in the remote Ozarks, there was a lot of music. Old tyme and folk music abounded at every social event (especially in kitchens) and I played in two great local bands, Renée Woods After Hours Big Band, and the quintet/sextet version. Tremendous fun, and while gigs were not as busy as a city band, they were always well attended by great dancing in beautiful dance halls.

     I also played in the Uncivil Servants, a Missouri blues band with a great following. We played some great blues festivals and bars. So much fun!