Awkward beginnings
It all started when I received a toy drum set at the tender age of six. Unfortunately, I destroyed it in about 10 minutes! Needless to say my father was not a happy camper. As a result, I didn’t see a real set until I was ten.
That was when my older brother Joe (already a great working drummer at fifteen) convinced my dad to buy me a drum kit for Christmas. But that’s not all Joe did.
Big brother and mentor
My brother encouraged me to practice fundamentals, learn to read music, and play along with records. After a few years, Joe insisted I go to Eagle Rock High School and join the jazz band — which, at the time — was under the inspired direction of John Rinaldo.
That is when I began to get really serious about my playing. And in doing so, I learned how to channel my overly energetic teen self in a positive direction. To this day I have my brother Joe to thank for my drum education.
Broadening horizons
Throughout junior and senior high school I met other drummers and musicians, and learned all I could from them. The world of music became huge — and yet I soon realized I was just scraping the surface.
Once I began performing, I fell in love with it (especially when I got paid)! Typical of that age, I spent time in (and out of) several local bands. During that era I was introduced to and began to master a variety of musical styles, in addition to adding congas, bongos and timbales to my repertoire.
Life is what happens . . .
I had youthful dreams of grandeur that were always changing. Would I go to Berkeley and get a degree in music? Join the Marine Band and play for the president? Live in Studio City and be a session drummer? Go to Hollywood, become a rock star, then tour the world?
Nope! I became a dad and got a job — which turned into a 37-year career as a field communications technician with the phone company.
So no tour, grammy, or gold records. However, I’ve managed to keep playing music throughout all these years. During tenures with a multitude of bands, I have performed everywhere from terrible smoky dives to some of the most beautiful ballrooms in all of California. (In fact, I have played so many weddings that I may even be in some of your wedding photos!)
Over the last twelve years I have been co-leader of my own band in the Temecula valley, in southern California. But though it was a wonderful experience, it had run its course, and I decided to bow out.
When one door closes . . .
A chance meeting with a fellow musician led to a new possibility. That guy was Rick Thibodeau, bassist with Savor. After a nice chat with [guitarist] Michael Caroff, my wife and I — along with a few friends — went to see the band in San Marcos.
Holy cow! The band rocked, and we all were quite impressed. So when offered the chance to join, I jumped at the opportunity. I’m looking forward to wowing audiences around the country with this premier tribute to Santana.