A Brief Biography: Born and raised in east-central Ohio; Graduated in 1971 from Claymont High School, Uhrichsville, Ohio; Attended Kent State University; Employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years; Married for 22 years to my high school sweetheart Ann, with three grown daughters and two grandsons between us; Now residing in Clearwater, Florida for the past eight years.
Musical history: Took piano lessons for two years in grade school at the urging of my trumpet-playing father. By my Junior High years, I had tired of the structured piano tutorials, and thrashed about on the drum kit with the local rock bands throughout high school and college. In 1974, I hooked up with a musician who sang, had a Hammond B-3, and could hold his own on the drums. We traveled the Holiday Inn circuit for a couple years, trading places on keys and drum kit.
After that, it was strictly piano, organ, synthesizers, and vocal harmonies that fueled my musical world, including forays into Dixieland Jazz, Big Band swing, acoustic folk rock, and Top 40 dance music. In the early ‘90s, my universe expanded to Columbus, Ohio where I joined renowned ‘Elvis’ impersonator Mike Albert’s Big “E” Band as keyboardist/backing vocalist.
Engagements across the U.S., in Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and on cruise ships in the Caribbean often featured former Elvis Presley associates, including original drummer D.J. Fontana, guitarist Scotty Moore, backing vocalists “The Jordanaires,” “J.D. Sumner and the Stamps,” “The Sweet Inspirations,” and “TCB Band” members James Burton, Ronnie Tutt, Jerry Scheff, and Glen Hardin.
After nine years as music director for the Big “E” Band, the lure of sunny beaches and palm trees brought us to Florida in 2001, where I began playing piano bars and solo keyboard and vocal gigs. I bring the diverse grab bag of musical treats that I’ve collected over the years to each engagement, and try to connect with every segment of my audience with music and participation. So far, that formula has served me well, and I look forward to each stride of my musical marathon.
A Brief Biography: Born and raised in east-central Ohio; Graduated in 1971 from Claymont High School, Uhrichsville, Ohio; Attended Kent State University; Employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years; Married for 22 years to my high school sweetheart Ann, with three grown daughters and two grandsons between us; Now residing in Clearwater, Florida for the past eight years.