Background
I’ve been around music my entire life…almost everyone in my family is a musician. I started playing drums when I was 10 and then picked up the guitar a few years later. After high school, I studied drums at Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles. After graduation, I taught private drums lessons and played around the Portland music scene for a few years as a drummer. During that I time I was fortunate to be involved with some great local talents such as Geoff Byrd, Stephanie Schneiderman, and Mike Johnson (formerly of Camaro Hair).
After a few years I decided it was time for a change, so I packed my bags and moved to Austin, Texas. I spent my time working in the corporate world, composing music for marketing presentations while writing songs for my debut album, The Destiny Maker.
I recently moved back to Portland and have re-engaged the local music scene with a renewed spirit. I love writing songs and connecting with people through music, and I’m looking forward to meeting new fans and performing for anyone who wants to listen. I hope to see you in the audience someday soon!
Influences
I’ve been into most types of music at one time or another, which means you may hear all sorts of different cover tunes mixed in at my live performances. Here is a list of some of my influences, listed by genre:
Mainstream Pop – John Mayer, Seal, U2, Vertical Horizon, Switchfoot, Chalk Farm, Sting, Tonic, Dave Matthews, Peter Gabriel, Lenny Kravitz
Classic Rock – Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Rush, The Police, The Eagles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Yes, Santana, Doobie Brothers
Folk / Adult Contemporary – Simon and Garfunkle, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, Lorena McKennitt, John Denver, Dan Fogleberg
“The 80’s” (and early 90’s) – Tears for Fears, Prince (from any decade), Howard Jones, Joe Jackson, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Michael Jackson, Bruce Hornsby, Madonna
Metal – Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ozzy, Queensryche, Van Halen, Dream Theater, Blue Murder
