SongVault Artist Profile

Music came naturally to me. My main influences in my teens were Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. I started writing songs as soon as I learned to play. When punk and new wave hit in the late 70’s I started a collection of bands which evolved into my first professional band, Manikin that played around the area for a couple of years. I started to teach guitar around this time in order to supplement my income.
In the 80’s I took an electronics course. This helped me come to grips with synthesizers which were becoming affordable at this time. I started a new band, AKA, which played locally. When AKA folded I sold all my sound reinforcement equipment and bought some recording gear to concentrate upon my own original material. I was working in the high tech field at this time and was introduced to computer programming.
In the mid 80’s I left the high tech industry and joined the Murray Reid Group, a popular Valley band, played constantly for a couple of years and decided to go solo. I have been playing solo now for close to 20 years with the aid of computer backing tracks that I have created myself.
I have been teaching guitar privately now for 25 years. I also run a project studio and have produced and performed on many local CD’s.
I released my first CD, Wire in 2007 and have a new collection of songs on my new CD, "Island". It will be available online soon.