In 1973, as I started high school in Chicago, IL, I wandered into the music department and discovered dozens of musical instruments with no one to play them. The music director encouraged my interest, and for the next four years I had a private practice room filled with a piano, guitar, string bass, cello, and mandolin. While mostly self taught throughout high school, I did study Music in college in order to get a grasp of music theory, harmony, and composition.
In 1978, while in college at Mankato State University in Minnesota, I started the Claxton Walsh Band with college buddies and for 5 years we played the Southern MN bar & ballroom circuit, doing country-rock, rock & roll, a little bluegrass, and having a ton of fun.
For the last 25+ years, I have continued to perform, write, and record original songs in my 16 track home studio, as well as arranging and producing for fellow musicians.
Jesse Winchester, JJ Cale, Richard Thompson, Eric Clapton, Counting Crows, Neil Young, Donald Fagen, Joan Armatrading, Gregg Allman, Paul Simon, JD Souther, Jerry Douglas, Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Lindsey Buckingham, Little Feat, Los Lobos, Louis Jordan, Lyle Lovett, Marti Jones, The Messengers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans, Leo Kottke, Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, Rickie Lee Jones, The Band, Roseanne Cash, Tom Petty, Van Morrison