Jazzy Kid... It all began in the melting pot of all melting pots, Berkeley, California. Born to professional hippies and raised by wolves I was bused to school from an early age. Berkeley was the first fully integrated school system in the country. That provided for a wonderful mix of musical and cultural exposure from a young age. I took up the alto sax at age 8. I was lucky enough to be a product of the ground-breaking Berkeley school system jazz program where kids were given intensive instruction in sight reading and improv beginning in 4th grade and then played in the school jazz band. The program would launch the careers of such established contemporary jazz artists as Benny Green, Rodney Franklin, Joshua Redman, Michael Wolff, David Murray, Craig Handy, Suzanne Teng, and countless others. Many have wondered what was in the water in Berkeley that made it produce so much talent, but the truth is that if you tap into a young creative mind and soul at an early age, give them a choice and a good experience to play fun music in an encouraging atmosphere, you will breed some great talent. Many of my peers have flourished in the jazz world while I would eventually go towards a pop music career, but the jazz and r&b roots creep into many of my recordings.

The first publicity shot.....
dig that dental work!

The Alfalfa years… When I was a wee tyke I would sing to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 countdown each Saturday morning. I knew I wanted to be a singer from a very young age, but the fright of doing so in front of people kept that dream locked away for a while. One day I decided to take a voice lesson. That led to 2 years of intensive voice training with an opera coach. If you want to truly hurt your ears, hang out one day while I warm up with my opera voice. I pity the animals 'round here.

After a stint at U.C. Berkeley, I trekked down Interstate 5 to LA LA Land where I cut an album or two, had a top 20 single, had some songs on Tee Vee and in movies, did some tours, and when I had breathed enough brown air, called it a day in L.A., and headed east. Now I spend the days playing in dirt.