My life is my family, my friends, and the Hammond jazz sound and feel.
I began my Hammond journey at the ripe young age of 12 after falling in love with the Earl Grant sound of "Count Basie on the B3". Something about that sound and feel hit me in that "God Spot" that lives somewhere just inside of and around the solar plexus.
I began performing locally by age 15. Then it was onto SANTANA and Jimmy Smith. Later, as I found the need to expand my knowledge of music and theory, I was off to Berklee College of Music, and the discovery of advanced theory and Oscar Peterson.
After doing solo and band commercial gigs in clubs, casinos and cruise ships, I joined Hammond Organ Company in Chicago as a product specialist. For Hammond I was traveling the country weekly, performing concerts and working with dealer staff on how to amp-up their demo techniques. This was followed by performances and organ and piano sales in Dallas, then back to clubs.
After a while, I decided to grow up and get a "real job" and have a wonderful family. So I put music on the back-burner, got married, and have the good fortune to have three healthy children, all of whom I'm so very proud. I worked for thirty years in IT as a systems analyst and project manager for BlueCross BlueShield of Delaware.
Some years later during the family days the Hammond tug became too strong, and I found my way back to the music world. So it was IT during the day and music at night.
Now, with performing as my top priority, I travel the country performing jazz and swing along with my Hammond presentation. And I'm fortunate again to have the opportunity to work with some of the finest musicians on the planet.
I’m passionate about my 3 awesome kids, about my wife who is and will always be the love of my life, working out/lifting, golf, being out on the water, the beach, and fresh seafood. Yet I do love a great steak with a great wine…a nice Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a favorite.
Activities over the years that I’ve enjoyed include coaching Little League, teaching organ and piano, coaching flag football, umpiring baseball for girls and boys aged 9 - 90, and as a Cub Scout den leader. In 2018 I ran for Delaware State Representative of my district, but alas did not win. Also, I’m currently treasurer of my neighborhood civic association. I found that the cliché really is true – you get back so much more than you give!
Every performance presents unique challenges. Performing, and making the complexities of the Hammond B3 accessible to all is what I aspire to during my performances. There are many Hammond's in use around the world. And many of these are road-worn, unmaintained and unloved, and have fallen into disrepair. Yet they're still on stage. Because of the unreliability of these old Hammonds, I bring the Viscount Legend Soul 273 to the forefront. This instrument has all of the beauty, sound and features of the Hammond B3 plus much more, along with the reliability of a new instrument. And, I know it will work according to expectation every time I turn it on.
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A funny story that I mention in my promo materials...
One evening I’m doing a gig in one of the Atlantic City casinos. I recognized a comedian in the back of the lounge, seated with another gentleman. They got up and went off in different directions. As they did so, I stopped what I was playing and immediately went into the comedian's theme song, LA VIRGEN DE LA MACARENA. He stopped for a moment, shaking his head, smiling his devilish smile, then continued on his way. After a few moments, Don Rickles re-entered the lounge, walked slowly by me at the Hammond and opined, “That was nice kid, but what time’s the piano player start?”, and continued toward the rear of the lounge. We chatted for a bit after. He was a genuine, real-time sweet guy.
Thanks for looking me up. Please stop by and say hello while visiting one of my shows.