Born in Detroit. At age four began carrying an Elvis Presley record (“Hound Dog” b/w “Don’t Be Cruel”) with my blanket at all times • Took up the banjo at an early age after seeing The Kingston Trio at the Michigan State Fair • Quit the banjo • Took up the drums after seeing Buddy Rich at the Masonic Temple • Played in bands • Almost gave up after being humbled at a Bob Seger show at my high school assembly • Mom worked at the St. Regis hotel in Detroit • All the big groups stayed there. Met quite a few • Hung out with The Who • Entwhistle tried to steal my girlfriend. Wish he had • Worked with my brother on his semi-legendary, “Drunk & Dirty’s” stage crew throughout Michigan • Worked with Harry Chapin • Great guy • Time for a move • Left Detroit • Moved to Southern California to become a famous musician • Washed cars at Avis • Tried film • Got hired by Stevie Wonder’s mom to video shoot his birthday party • Turned out it was for security purposes. Traveled to Mexico City for the making of “Dune” • Got yelled at by David Lynch • That was cool. Quit the drums • Better to set up famous guys drums than to sleep in dives • Worked for Coast Music. Hired away by Express Sound during the home studio boom made popular by TEAC • Went to work for Audio Services selling Nagras to film guys • Didn’t know much about it • Also sold wireless gear to INXS, Men At Work, Mental As Anything • Aussie bands liked me • I liked them • Got hired by Soundcraft as US Field Sales Manager • Harmon bought the company. I left • Went on tour with Jimmy Buffett • Was hired as sales manager by QSC Audio after kicking company president Barry Andrews off the stage during a Buffett show • Became Director of Marketing • Continued touring with Buffett on my “vacation time” • Left QSC and moved to New York to work for Crest Audio. Great people but didn’t like the stress of pretending to be a Deadhead • Hired by Meyer Sound as US Sales Manager and later VP/Tour Sound • Saw the world • Fell in love with Montreux, Switzerland. Brought Norah Jones, Barenaked Ladies, White Stripes into the Meyer Sound fold • Woke up one day and realized I was corporate • How did that happen? • Time to pivot • Reconnect with the music • My blanket was long-gone but dug up my Elvis record.
