I was introduced to music at a young age growing up in New York. My father was a jazz aficianado and played alto sax and my mother PLAYED THE radio THAT WAS TYPICALLY FIXED ON A POP STATION.

 

WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD, My family moved to monrovia, liberia, in west africa. This was my introduction to world music as well as my introduction to playing guitar. My father would often play recordings of artists such as BENNY goodman, louis armstrong, glen miller, and other big band stars. The only other connection to american music was on a taped dick clark top 40 radio program where we would heAR what was happening on the charts back in the usa.  

 

A FEW YEARS LATER, WE MOVED TO JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE THE BRITISH INVASION, that was LED BY THE BEATLES, HAD TAKEN HOLD OF MY CLASSMATES & I. On any given day, the sounds of THE FAB FOUR, Dave Brubeck, stan getz, the beach boys, motown, and african music might BE heard FROM various rooms throughout our house with the thatched roof.

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UPON RETURNING TO THE USA, I PLAYED IN LOCAL COVER BANDS AND DABBLED IN WRITING ORIGINAL SONGS. Eventually, my obsession would lead to a recording contract with ABC Records and international tours, all while still attending high school.

 

Some of my major influences include jONI MITCHELL, CHICK COREA, BRIAN AND CARL WILSON, THE BEATLES (including GEORGE MARTIN), SQUEEZE, MICHAEL PENN, STEELY DAN, JOHN SCOFIELD, PAT METHANY, MICHAEL BRECKER, WEATHER REPORT, PETER GABRIAL, STEVIE WONDER, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE and so many more.

 

The diversity of influences helped ready me for a career in music composition and songwriting, working for a variety of production companies whose clients rangeD fROm Ford Motor coMPANY, MAC TRUCK, AND SUBURU TO WALMART, WESTIN HOTELS, ENDICOTT JOHNSON, PIZZA HUT, AND MANY others. MY VOICE and musicianship HAve BEEN FEATURED ON MAJOR TELEVISION NETWORK SHOWS AS WELL AS COmMERCIALS IN THE USA AND INTERNATIONALLY.

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Although i was thankful for the work AND EXPERIENCE, I INEVITABLY grew restless and found it hard to turn my back on my own personal music  and therefore opted to cut

the ties. I have been writing, recording, and performing my music since that day.

 

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