Started playing as a young tyke, aged 10 years, by picking up my father's Kay Jumbo Western acoustic and summarily bashing the living crap out of it...seeing as some of the God awful noise I was making resembled music, my older brother (Sean, RIP bro) decided to send me to study with local legend Lee Wondo to learn what I should and shouldn't do with stringed instruments. After 4 years (1978 - 1982) of intense drinking and not so intense studying on my part, Lee suggested that I consider pursuing another career as he felt I had no possible chance of actually playing a guitar with any semblance of talent (in your face Lee...although it was probably the best advice anybody has *ever* given me), but then I brought a bass up to one fateful lesson and he did a complete 180, even going s far as suggesting several local acts that he felt would hire me to play bass for them! Me being me, I was reluctant to follow with his advice once again. Following a breif hiatus from studies, I continued learning my craft from South Jersey local jazz phenom Perry Lopez, who actually taught me to read music and to play my guitar with passion and grace (in all fairness, I already knew how to read, Perry just forced me to use those latent skills). I studied Perry's amazing technique for approximately a year (1984 - 1985), after which he moved on to bigger and better things, leaving me without a musical sensei. Next, I sought the influence of another local legend from the South Jersey area, Mike D'Allesandro, who helped me make more sense of the intensities laid on me by Perry. I was Mike's student from 1987 - 1988, until the passing of my father forced me to re-evaluate my life and strike out on my own musical path. I've been playing my guitar for the better part of 37 years, and have been following the low down groove on bass for well over 20 years now. Still learning, still seeking inspiration from all sources...
Gear
BASS GEAR - 2007 Jay Turser JT-134 semi-hollow body 4 string bass, 2009 Brice HTX-405 5 string bass, 2008 Douglas WOB-806 6 string bass, 2010 Epiphone Thunderbird 4 string bass, 2009 Warwick Rockbass Streamer 4 string bass, late 90's SRW Workingman 2X10C 220 watt combo amp with Workingman 1x15 extension cabinet, 2010 Ampeg SVT7 Pro 1000 watt amp head, 1980s Peavey 2 x 15 Black Widow cabinet.
GUITAR GEAR - 1978 Epiphone Genesis Standard solid body (my number one), 2008 Ibanez Artcore AF75TDG hollow body, 2009 Epiphone Dot Studio modded wth Guitar Fetish X-Trem wangbar and Wilkenson roller bridge (my favorite semihollow), 2011 BC Rich Mockingbird ST, 2010 Epiphone EJ-200CE/N super jumbo acoustic/electric, 1974 Sunn Concert Lead 150 watt amp head and 4 x 12 straight face cabinet, Peavey Windsor 100 watt head, late 80s Marshall 1922 2x12 cabinet, Bugera v22 1x12 22 watt combo.
