I was born in Detroit Michigan.
From an early age, music was part of my life. My mother sang in the church choir, my father was an amateur boogie-woogie pianist and my grandfather owned a funeral parlor where he was also an organist.
My musical beginnings were as a trombonist but drums and percussion were my passion. In 6th grade, my mom bought me a snare drum and I started taking private lessons. I played in concert and marching band in school from 7th grade through high school as well as rock bands playing for school dances.
I moved to Colorado in 1973 and played in many groups touring the west playing night clubs through 1977 at which time I moved back to Michigan for a short period and continued playing mostly in rhythm and blues groups.
In 1978 I moved to California and lived there until 2014. While in California I played on hundreds of tv and radio commercials, artist recordings, songwriting demos even walk-up music for amusement park ride California.
I have toured North America and Canada extensively as well as Europe, Japan, Australia, and Tahiti.
I have appeared on The tonight show with Jay Leno several times as well as The Late Show with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Academy of country music awards (ACM), The Grammy awards show The Country music awards (CMA), and others.
Prominent artists I’ve played, toured, and recorded for include Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Lucinda Williams, Jim Messina, Johnny Rivers, Buck Owens, Jefferson Starship, Roger Miller, Kathy Segal, Katie Webster, Eddie “cleanhead “ Vinson, Chuck e Weiss, Ralph Stanley, Tony Furtado, Harold Land... and others.
I’ve played at festivals and venues such as Bonaroo, Coachella, Stagecoach , Montreaux, Roskilde, Glastonbury, Radio city music hall, Pepsi Center, Red Rocks, the Forum, Madison Square Garden, and many others.
Former students are
Mario Calire...CalArts graduate....former Wallflowers, Ozomatli drummer, and active recording drummer in L.A.
Seth Woods...Los Angeles music Academy graduate and University of Miami graduate....drummer for Paul Anka and active educator
Randall Marsh ....drummer for Mudcrutch and Original drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Dick Gay....longtime drummer for Clint Black
John Spittle....drummer for Trace Atkins
Tina Curtis ....CalState Long Beach graduate...CalState Northridge masters degree....music educator for Los Angeles unified school district.
Professional equipment endorsements
Tama drums
Zildjian cymbals
Remo drumheads and percussion
Innovative Percussion Drumsticks and Mallets