"It all started in a 5,000 watt radio station in Fresno  California..." :) (Looooou...)

I started playing guitar when I was in 7th Grade. I heard Brian May's guitar tone on "We Will Rock You" and decided right then and there that I had to play the guitar. Then  around '80/'81,  I bought my first Rick Springfield album ("Working Class Dog"). Yes  the one with "Jessie's Girl"  but all the songs on that album are pop/rock-guitar masterpieces. Then the music just kept on comin' - subsequently  the albums "Success Hasn't spoiled Me Yet"  "Living In Oz",  "Tao",  and "Rock of Life" solidified the type of music that was my definition of what music I wanted to make: clear-cut guitar-rock  but with a major key 'backdrop'. Music does not have to be in a dark  minor key to be heavy. And since I've always been a ridiculously happy guy  major-key rock was my thang.

It was Rick's music that made me want to play music for the rest of my life and then (through Rick  again) I heard Tim Pierce  Rick's lead guitar player for the majority of that music. To me  Tim is not only one of the best lead players ever  but he then defined exactly what I want to do in life: simply play guitar for people who make great music (and of course  earn a living from that). I write my music simply so that I have something to solo over. So  what better job for me than to let other musicians write great music that I could help out with by playing the guitar parts?

During a high school retreat  they asked us,  "What are you looking forward to most after graduating?" I responded  "Sitting back and playing guitar for the rest of my life." Great motivational counselors that they were  they told us that life isn't that easy and that it doesn't work out quite that way. Well  ever since graduation,  I've been sitting back and playing guitar. And making a living at it.

I took private lessons for rock guitar in the beginning  but then my musical appetites grew and I started taking jazz guitar and even classical. I went to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago for a semester in their jazz guitar combo  but then stopped when the opportunities came to go out and play in working bands and make money.

The most predominant bands I've more recently played in have been the Dustin Parker Band  Tone Poets,  World Class Noise,  and the Bert Cattoni Band. I recorded the album "Tales From Centerville" with Dustin and even helped in a number of studio sessions with him as he produced other artists and albums. Most notably  a great album by Jennifer Onesto  "Twenty Houses". http://jenniferonesto.50megs.com That was a great session. I went in to do a solo or two  and they ended up having me play lead and rhythm guitar on the majority of the album. It was exciting for me for two reasons. Number one  they would just play a tune for me for the first time  and I would sit and cut the track a take or two later. It was a chance for all my transcribing and ear training to be put to good use. The other great thing is that I was paid in pizza. Two pizzas if I remember correctly.

More recently  I worked with World Class Noise which to me is the best rock/soul/r&b band here in Chicago. We did a lot of great live dates including closing for Foreigner at a summerfest in Iowa. This was the first chance for me to play in front of what was figured to be around 3,500 people. Very cool. We also did some recording of some great original music as well. You can check them out at http://www.worldclassnoise.com

Currently  I'm playing in the Bert Cattoni Band. Bert is great country singer/songwriter here in Chicago. We are currently working on a new CD that should be out in the in a few weeks (as of this date  June 25,  2004). Check out Bert's website at http://www.fairwayrecords.com for more info.

Throughout the years  I've been recording my own original guitar-instrumental music. Now  Joe the Bass Player  Jay the Drummer and I will be doing a DVD-Gig this fall to make a promo DVD that we can bring out to the NAMM shows to show people what we can do.

A special thanks goes out to my wife  Sharon (Mrs. Dave The Guitar Player)  for all her help throughout the years. Like "Mutt" Lange  she prefers to keep her image private  while creating all the magic behind the scenes.