I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and there was always music in my house, mostly due to my fathers great love of jazz. So when I started playing saxophone in school band at the age of nine he was thrilled. (My mother was less thrilled, she wanted me to play the violin.....ouch!) But she got her back-up wish when I was twelve and started playing classical piano, and oh how my little fingers flew! Three years, countless lessons and a number of competitions later, though, a high school social life took center stage and the piano began collecting dust. Lucky for me, some of it stuck, and years later became my instrument of choice to write with. Throughout my high school and college years, jazz saxophone continued to stand out in my musical expression, and I was blessed with the honor of playing with a few of the great artists in jazz. But it was only half of my heart, as my passion for the rock flavor of the day was equally as engaging. From Charlie Parker to AC/DC, I got quite an education.

 It wasn't until later that I thought much about singing. I was a college drop out, living with my parents, working as a school bus driver during the week, and a fry cook slash gas station attendant on the week-ends. This was a low point for me, and literally on a whim, I moved to Los Angeles and attended a vocal school in Hollywood, California. It was there that the pearly gates of R&B and soul music opened wide up for me. WOW! Experiencing the soul singers of the 60s and 70s was one of the most influential musical experiences of my life. Still today, rock and soul music have molded me as a singer and artist more than any other style.

Over the next several years, I was fortunate to work often, and have built a successful career as a singer in Los Angeles. But, like so many others before me I couldn't help getting bit by the artist bug and began to write. Through my writing I began searching for myself as an artist. For someone who grew up in a Beaver Cleaver childhood, digging deep to find the typical "ugly stuff that lurks in the shadows" pop song has been basically impossible for me. Because of that I think I have something to say that you don't hear from many artists. I don't have a lot of baggage and I am not in therapy (although I have been accused of needing to send out little packages of prozac with my record-a FEW of the songs are quite sad.) But it all comes from love . The sadness, although some from simple growing pains, has mostly come from the profound loss of my father. (yes, we actually liked each other and got along great!) This has been a treacherous road, but very much worth it. The search for who and what I want to be and say as an artist is a never-ending journey. This record represents the first step for me, hopefully one of many.