At a tender age I was accepted for violin study with the great Voldemars Rushevics, who, though an arduous taskmaster, instilled in his young pupil a deep passion for the pursuit of musical excellence. While other kids in the neighborhood were playing sports, I was practicing violin, usually with my dedicated mom at my side. As a very young musician I gained an intimate knowledge of both ensemble and solo performance, and came to accept that involvement in the arts was synonymous with life itself.
By the time I entered my teens I had had a new musical love; the guitar. Anyone who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s witnessed the ascendence of the guitar to the epicenter of popular culture, via the Beatles, Stones, and countless other legendary bands. At the same time the instrument was assuming a new and dynamic role in contemporary jazz, with some very non-traditional influences infiltrating the music. And of course, the towering Andres Segovia and his acolytes had by then brought the Classical Guitar to it’s rightful place in the music world. All of that brought a dizzying range of possibilities to this young, aspiring guitarist. I hungrily devoured the popular music of the day, and formally studied both classical and jazz guitar.
I was also invited to study, on violin scholarship, at the prestigious Interlochen Academy For The Arts, one of the greatest learning experiences imaginable. I was now well on my way to a career as a concert violinist, but, as life would have it, the seduction of the guitar finally became irresistible, and I soon found myself continuously, and happily well-employed. Over the ensuing years I was seen on stage after stage, night after night, in a diverse range of scenarios, including the original rock bands ‘Hombre’ and ‘Basic English’, the modern-country band ‘Southbound’, the funky, horn-drenched sounds of ‘Newt And The Salamanders’, and my own immensely popular show band, ‘The Exciters’. This mosaic of touch-stones in my my musical journey left me with a huge range of experiences to draw upon; from the challenges of having studied and performed both classical and jazz, to having tackled, and then mastered, pretty much every style of pop music. Whew!...I’m tired already..
I was next seen (endless surprises in a musician’s life) as staff guitarist in the venerable ‘Ken Hamilton/Terry Malone Show’ which brought me from the midwest to Miami Beach, and eventually to my second home; San Juan Puerto Rico, where I became deeply immersed in latin jazz, and other Caribbean idioms.
By the early 90’s I’d once again formed my own variety group; ‘The Wize Gize’, whom, after a great stint as the house band at the five-star El San Juan Hotel, collectively relocated to beautiful St. Thomas, and quickly became the first-call band in the Virgin Islands. We also spent a couple of awesome summers performing on the Greek island of Santorini, where we were featured at the renowned Eternity Jazz Cafe.
Back on St.Thomas, I MC’d, and led the house band for the legendary ‘Limelight Monday’ event at Barnacle Bill’s, which was a widely attended weekly showcase for allot of great of local talent, and not infrequently, world famous guest artists.
Recent years have seen a somewhat more sedate me primarily performing as an acoustic guitarist and violinist, and leading my own jazz groups, though I’m still known to rock out here and there, so watch out..
I have appeared on stage with latin-jazz masters David Sanchez, Fernando Gumbs, Hector Venero, and Victor Payano. I’m also honored to have been seen performing along side guitar legends Gene Bertoncini, Joe Beck, and world famous jazz bassist, Michael Moore - these are the moments we live for as musicians!
I’ve held down the bass chair in the highly regarded ‘Luis Taylor Jazz Trio’, and have been presented as a featured artist at the ‘Full Moon Jazz’ concert series at the St Thomas Yacht Haven Grande. I compose and produce my own, rather eclectic, instrumental music in my home studio, and am an enthusiastic music educator. It has also been my humble privilege to have presented well received classical guitar recitals in some of our lovely, historic churches in the Virgin Islands.
I continue to perform regularly at the Virgin Island’s finest resorts, including the Ritz Carlton, Caneel Bay, Marriott, Sugar Bay, and Westin. I’ve been a featured entertainer aboard Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines, and have provided both guitar and violin tracks for ISW studios in St. Thomas. I’ve, as well, provided entertaiment for well known conductors, opera singers, and established New York theatre folks - these are the only gigs that had me a little nervous. The kind, and glowing accolades are some of the most rewarding things I’ve experienced as a musician.
I also regularly contract through numerous independent tour companies and wedding planners, and have traveled both domestically and internationally for engagements.
