MY Biography

I started playing guitar when I was ten and grew up listening to country music and K-Tel records. My biggest childhood influences were singer songwriter musicians the likes of Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot, basically the music that was playing in my home at the time. Growing up when I did there was no internet, just a small record player and jamborees down at the Mitchells on Saturday nights. Those were the days.  
 
My early blues influences were albums of music I found at my guitar teacher's studio and my older brother's 8 tracks. (Hey...I grew up in The Pas, Manitoba.) Guys like Lesley West of Mountain to Rory Gallagher and Roy Buchanan and Randy Bachman all really influenced me. I also really like Carlos Santana and I remember Jimi Hendrix's Smash Hits. Then I was introduced to Electric LadyLand. Later on I travelled to the big city I started getting exposed to a whole new group of Blues players. Players like Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Johnny Winter and some great local guys such as Big Dave Mclean And Brent Parkin and Colin "munn"James and the local list goes on.
 
I like all forms of songwriting from country to contemporary. I try to define stories of relationships, the environment and social justice into my lyrics.
 
As far as guitar styles go my biggest influences are the guys that are the most complex to figure out and the most challenging to learn and play. Some of those guys are Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Lenny Breau. You will also hear some Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix or Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan and Eric Clapton in my guitar licks. The list goes on and on with many of the great players who fired me up.
 
My acoustic style incorporates Celtic, Gypsy Swing and Eastern influences and my compositions and vocal arrangements border on the mystical. Recently I toured Spain and Ireland for three months. There I discovered first hand from Gypsy musicians what Flamenco music was all about. These were the musical journeys that provided me with the source and inspiration for much of what I continue to do in the acoustic genre.  I also have a trio that performs locally and we are always recording. 
 
Below is a list of some of the world class acts that I have had the privilege of sharing the stage with:.
  • Performed and jammed with such internationally known artists such as Joe Walsh, James Cotton, Oscar Lopez, The Rhythm section of The Neville Brothers, The Blues Travellers and Icelandic guitar wiz Bjorn Thoroddsen.
     
  • Performed at the Winnipeg Jazz Festival with jazz pianist Jeff Presslaff.
     
  • Performed with Lou Pride numerous times in Winnipeg.
     
  • Toured with R&B Soul Singer Lou Pride from Chicago down through the State of Mississippi.
     
  • Performed Trout Music Festival; shared stage with Ken Hamm, Valdi, Pancho & Sal and Big Dave McLean. Performed with Rita Chiarelli.
     
  • Shared the stage at The Winnipeg Folk Festival with Oscar Lopez and Richard Moody.
     
  • Performed at The Winnipeg Folk Festival with Richard Moody and CoffeeMan.
     
  • Second time finalist at The Jimi Hendrix Guitar Festival, Seattle Washington Opera House.
     
  • First time finalist at The Jimi Hendrix Guitar Festival, Seattle Washington Opera House.
     
  • Represented The Province of British Columbia at The Guitar Warz National Finals televised live on Much Music from Toronto, Ontario.