Biography

I was born in 1971 in Youngstown Ohio. My dad was a drummer who had played in the Dallas Symphony and toured the country with groups like The Blue Barron and Russ Carlisle. I began taking lessons from him when I was six years old. When I was 15 (1987), I went to Notre Dame University to compete with a drum corps called the Centurions.  I won the individual snare drum competition, becoming the 1987 AYOP World Champion. After high school, I went to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where I majored in secondary mathematic education. While at IUP, I played snare in the marching band for two year before becoming a resident assistant (Elkin Hall). I also played drums at Victory Christian Assembly, where I played with the IUP Voices of Joy. I also had a band called Soul Biscuit, which was a funk, rap-rock band. After college I taught math at Keystone Adolescent Center in Greenville, PA , taught drums at Thiel College also in Greenville and had a band called Rickets. We got some local radio play, but broke up. I got married and started teaching math at Reynolds High School and pretty much gave up drumming. My school was having a talent show and the local weather guy that was going to mc the night couldn't make it. I was asked if I would mc the show and do a drum solo. I remember thinking how sad it was that I was back to high school talent shows. I put together a solo and got a standing ovation. I started getting a bunch of offers to play. I started playing again and got some amazing jobs. Looking back on my life I can see that God had his hand in my life and it was when I humbled myself that I found success. I play drums Sundays at my church, Rock of Grace in Kinsman Ohio and find it very rewarding. You are all invited! I currently play in a horn band called 2nd Avenue, and play with Christian artists Jordan Biel and Becky Blose and do studio work.