sings

I decided I wanted to learn to play guitar when I was 12 years old. The first songs I learned to play were by Neil Young and The Beatles. I wrote my first song at 15 about a girl, but never found the courage to tell her.

I led my first band at 21. We were horrible (I have video footage to prove it). I began to find a writing style of my own after a year or so of working with a saxophone player. Together we crafted music that I still enjoy today, though I was still attempting to sound like Paul Heaton (The Housemartins & The Beautiful South) with my voice.

After wood-shedding for a year I recorded the first batch of songs that represented a voice of my own and songs that came from inside more than from my outside influences.

I spent the next few years playing and singing in coffee houses in and around Evanston. Many of them did not survive the arrival of Starbucks.

I continued working on my craft until my first child was born. With new responsibilities, songwriting took the back seat for a while... until 2001 or so, when, after listening to a lot a jazz, I picked up the guitar again and started learning some new chords and new songs - songs that Nat King Cole sang in his early years.

At 35 I began writing and recording again. I also found myself collaborating with other talented artists. I spent 3 years playing in a very rewarding duo with Gavin Kirk. Our influences were surprisingly similar (British pop AND Gypsy Jazz? Go figure). But all good things come to an end and Gavin relocated to Seattle for work.

As I settle into my 40s I find myself in numerous situations and learning new things to do on my guitar weekly. I still love the idea of live music at coffee houses and approached the new owners of the one down the street from where I live. I've been running First Saturdays since winter of 2007 and have been enjoying myself immensely.

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