If you’ve read this far, thanks for your interest; I’m really excited about working with this band, and this page’s intention is to help kindle a similar excitement among former, present and future fans of the group. My influences, achievements and goals follow along these lines:

Years ago, this lady would sing in church; not in a choir, just seated with everyone else. But while others were just mouthing the words, this woman sang as if she meant it, with a voice strong yet controlled, confident yet reverent. She was humble in her devotion, and generous in sharing her Gift. She embarrassed the heck out of her two kids who couldn’t stand to see everyone turning around to look at the source of the Voice. It would be years before I could finally appreciate my Mother’s exalted talent. It happened when she stole the show in a local musical production; my best work on stage can only come close to her effortless and joyful communication with her audience. I was lucky enough to show her what I’d learned, years later, in a local production of Jesus Christ Superstar…which leads me to another influence…

Deep Purple was already popular for a while, when I discovered them; Ian Gillan was doing something that no other singer copied at the time…sure, Plant and later Coverdale and so many others also brought stratospheric range to rock vocals, but no one had such a clear timbre & wide vibrato as ‘the original’ however, and he remains for me a strong influence. Prior to getting the chance to cover his work, I took a detour that eventually aided that goal: I auditioned for a local musical. It started me on another path that took me to a dozen countries, in the musical ‘HAIR’ (yes, I did ‘the Scene’; it was a joyful act of freedom & honesty, and I heartily recommend trying it--in the proper venue, of course. Anyway, even fully clothed performers must bare something of themselves, to establish communication with the audience).

Anyone who has considered themselves an actor usually finds their way to New York, and so did I; supporting a musical/theatrical career with technical day gigs in & out of the theater was truly exhilarating. The energy of the city kept me stoked for the seven years I lived there. During that time I performed with bands in some clubs with history: the former Ritz Ballroom, renamed Webster Hall by the time I got there; also the Continental, and Arlene Grocery are among the more well-known. Hanging out again w/author Jim Rado, while performing in NYC’s 30th anniversary production of ‘HAIR’ was another highlight of those times. To quote a deeper cut from that show, “How I Love(d) My Hippie Life”.

Now in DC, I have been indulging my inner ‘gear geek’, and have as much fun building and maintaining my amp farm as I do playing & singing; if I have a voice left after a show it would be happily spent discussing tube amp maintenance or FX pedal building…when I don’t have a mic in my hand, there’s often a soldering iron there. But I digress; this band has given me the chance and challenge of a lifetime: few things I’ve done have been so demanding, and for that reason, so rewarding. Rock On!