About the Artist

I have been playing guitar since that fantastic Christmas morning in 1975. My first guitar was a Kimberly electric from JC Penny. At the time I thought it was the greatest! My guitar instructor eventually intervened and convinced my folks that I was worthy of something better. I was fortunate enough to have studied with an excellent jazz guitarist named Glen Corrigan. I have to admit that at the time I preferred learning “Stairway to Heaven” to chord progressions utilizing a minor 7 flat 5 chord. Little did I know that he was laying the foundation for my future. In 1981-82 I completed Green River Community College’s “Professional Entertainment Training Program”. It was a lot like American Idol for college credit. I found this to be an invaluable experience.

Most of my playing throughout the 80’s and 90’s was Sunday morning in church. I made it my goal to make worship music groove as much as possible. I have been a fan of Smooth Jazz long before that label even existed. The Jeff Lorber Fusion, George Benson, Grover Washington Jr. and Paul Jackson Jr. are a few of the artists that have had a huge impact on my playing. On the more traditional side of jazz, I would have to say that Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian and Miles Davis have had the greatest influence.

In 1991 I married my wife Andrea, which inevitably lead to the birth of my children Natalie, Alec and Conor. I was working as a counselor in public education at the time. I loved working with children and teenagers and was very excited to raise my own. Unfortunately, my twin boys were diagnosed with Autism. Since the time of their diagnosis in 1999 I have devoted my life to working with them full-time. Throughout these years I have managed to hone my “Smooth Jazz” chops and I am very pleased to present you with my first CD called “The Final Touch”.