I began playing the drums at age 10 in grade school.  I played the drums in the marching band, the concert band and the jazz band from grade school through high school.  I had many good music teachers in those days and they taught me the importance of daily practice and the fundamentals of good musicianship.  Fortunately for me, I loved playing the drums so I quickly became first chair drummer for many years during my school band years.
 
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area of California exposed me to a wide variety
of music.  My dream of being a professional drummer and musician was born as I watched many great drummers playing at some historic concerts.  Watching the drummer at concerts was and is a great learning experience for me. These concerts ignited a fire and passion in me to play the drums and to be a musician.  I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Upon graduation from high school, I accepted an offer to go on the road with a Top-40 dance cover band touring northern California, Oregon, and Alberta, Canada.  The band played six nights a week in hotel lounges, dance clubs or small concert halls at each of the cities and small towns we visited on our extended road trip. 

My first road trip gave me valuable performing and drumming experience in a wide variety of musical styles.  But it also gave me something more important, a taste for what life on the road was like.  I learned first hand all about the little things that can and will go wrong while you are away from home.  I quickly realized that life on the road exposed one to a variety of experiences, some good and some, not so good. 

Alas, for me the good outweighs the bad because you are growing as a player and as
an individual as you deal with the unexpected problems that inevitably arise while traveling.  Bottom line is I like to travel, so life on the road is something I usually look forward to and enjoy.

I just got back from working on a cruise ship with Carnival Australia in the south Pacific.  I played 80 gigs in a row without one day off.  Good for building your stamina I guess.

Currently, looking for new projects and continuing to develop my drumming skills through daily practice and by watching instructional DVDs by drummers like Dave Weckl,  Horacio Hernandez, Thomas Lang, Neil Peart, Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, and Vinnie Colaiuta to name a few.