Writer and instrumentalist, artwork and production and everything in between.
Making art and music as a way of life, and music is the heart of it. It's an expression of untold complexity and verve. I want to keep it up forever. I play keyboards, bass, a little guitar and other instruments, but focus only on keyboards for recordings.
I come from a very musical family, almost all ear players, and I am, too. But I had a teacher that changed my life by teaching me theory in first year high school and at the end of that first year I handed in a 26-instrument score. He was brilliant, and the impact on me has followed me all of my life. It was a gift beyond anything else in my experience.
I had already decided to play the piano - I was predisposed to it - so I rolled the Knabe black grand piano to the center of the stage at school long after everyone left. Just me and the janitors. I threw on some stage lights and played everything I could - until my hands bled and I cramped so badly it was like having claws.
But I came away from that able to play Elton John's work, Billy Joel, then Yes, then Genesis, and the next thing I knew I was one of three rockers in the school with some chops. And then my brother decided to learn, did it in six weeks, and play R&B and gospel flawlessly. I am so proud of that, you know, we came from no money, a big family and we only had what was available to us at school, and we still made the best of all that and made it happen.
Just goes to show you it's not about ego. I wanted it and did it. He wanted it, did it, became a music minister, and made me amazed at how remarkable we were - because we were just kids. And it took a dedicated adult to teach us to be not only proficient, but literate. His name is Kenneth Ferris and taught at Bristol Eastern High. A miracle worker, that man.
And now, it's all about arts in general; I'm an oldster now and while I don't have the velocity, I still do a 90 song set without rest and standing because I may be old, but I rock.
Take some time and listen to the material, and I hope that you find something you like in it. I did it entirely by myself from the ground up, after years of not playing but you know, it never ever leaves you.
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