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I write songs about contemporary issues like homelessness, immigration, terrorism, ecological uncertainty, the effects of globalization, technology and aging, with the goal of encouraging introspection and reflection. I am not always serious and I also write songs that are satirical comments about some of the absurdities of our modern world.
I enjoy performing for small audiences who are there to listen at venues like house concerts, coffee houses and outdoor festivals.
I am now focusing my efforts on recording until we can resume live performances.
I am a singer, songwriter, guitar, bass and banjo player and my eclectic style offers up flavors of folk, country, swing, bluegrass, blues, reggae and western swing. A resident of West Seattle since 1993, I grew up in New York City where I sang in an acapella do wop quartet. It was there that I began to play guitar and took up the banjo after hearing The Dillards on public radio. Inspired by my new passion for the high lonesome sound, I played guitar in a variety of bluegrass bands in California, and Colorado and after moving to Seattle, played banjo with two well known regional bands, Rainy Pass and Stay Tuned. While immersed in the world of bluegrass, I continued to listen to and play a variety of musical styles.
After dabbling in songwriting for a few years, I began writing in earnest while a member of Rainy Pass, a Seattle based bluegrass band that featured all original material. In addition to writing bluegrass songs, I began to explore other musical styles such as western swing, folk, country, blues and reggae. Bob Wills, Asleep At The Wheel, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Merle Travis, Robin And Linda Williams, Jimmy Cliff are some of my musical influences. I attempt to write songs that are topical and relevant, creating provocative images of the world we live in. Rather than taking a particular point of view, I want to get people to think about what is going on in the world around them. I also have a light and playful side, with songs about the absurdities of our way of life, inspired by Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, John Prine and Tom Lehrer.