Bio
I am an Atlanta-area musician, primarily an electric and acoustic guitarist and instrumental music composer. Originally from Long Island, NY, I’ve performed since I was 16 eventually earning a living as a musician. My 50 years of playing experience includes performing with many bands in different musical genres, solo performances, and participating as part of music ministries for over 25 years in various local churches where my family and I were members. I’ve also participated as a guest in a few church music ministries as well. Though I always enjoyed performing, my involvement in the music ministry in churches has been the most meaningful to me.
My main areas of musical focus though the years has been in Jazz, Blues, Rock, Gospel, Classical and acoustic guitar styles. I’ve dabbled in other genres but those are the ones I’m most adept at playing.
In addition to performing, I have made a living as a guitar instructor for over 35 years and have had the pleasure of teaching hundreds of students in the Atlanta area. A number of guitar teachers and performing musicians in my area were actually former students of mine.
Beginnings…
Born in 1960 on Long Island, NY. The fascination with the guitar, started as a child growing up in my home town of Lindenhurst, a wonderful little town on the South bay of Long Island. At an early age I was exposed to Hispanic music which was rich in exotic rhythms and melodies passionately played by virtuoso guitarists, which caught my imagination.
In my preteens, my Dad bought me an electric guitar from a pawn shop that looked cool but, because of some flaws in the instrument, it proved difficult to play, but I persisted in learning and practicing. I started guitar lessons on that guitar. When I turned 13, I got a job as a newspaper delivery boy and was able to save enough money, with some help from my Mom, and bought my first professional instrument: a beautiful natural wood-finish Fender Stratocaster. It was a fine instrument and it played so smooth. My fingers had built up a lot of strength and dexterity from playing on my first “starter” guitar so playing on that instrument was effortless. A few years later I was able to purchase a beautiful Gibson Les Paul Custom (pictured above).
Naturally, growing up as a teenager in the 70’s, I was hearing the legendary sounds of all the great classic rock guitarists which I eagerly sat to learn how to play in that style. Then a friend introduced me to Jazz and later a teacher introduced me to Classical music. My musical appetite and my hunger for learning deepened. I was practicing all of the time and while taking lessons I did a lot of self-study reading through music theory text books that I sent away for. I also read books about music history from my high school and local library along with music industry magazines. I wanted to learn from anything I could get my hands on. Also I had the privilege of studying under some fantastic guitar teachers and had exposure to many wonderful musicians through those early years that helped me to grow musically as well as hone my playing skills.
Over the next few decades, my life was filled with lots of musical activity. My musical travels took me from New York, Los Angeles, Florida and finally Atlanta, GA where I reside now.
In my early 20’s I had an encounter with Jesus Christ that drastically changed my life along with my life’s direction and activity. I married at 23 and over the next many years worked in corporate America while raising a family and keeping musically active.
Even though I had occasionally “performed” in a few live (secular) settings over recent years, but my main focus for my music has been in offering my talent in the music ministry of the local church. The last few years I have significantly scaled up my guitar instruction business while writing/recording my own compositions and collaborating with other musicians. I’ve also had the pleasure to help develop and train a number of like-minded Christian musicians to become more skilled for service to God in local churches. I pray for the privilege and opportunity to continue doing that for years to come.
I am thankful for this wonderful gift of music but greater than that, I’m forever grateful for the grace of God that I encountered in my life that gave me peace with Him. My prayer is for my life and my music would give glory, honor and praise to my Lord Jesus Christ.
