I started making music in elementary school, playing the trumpet in the band, and later also in the jazz band.  At some point during high school I bought a guitar for $5 at a yard sale, and spent months teaching myself to play "Bad Bad Leroy Brown."  Each song after that got a little easier.

My first band in high school was named "Stiletto" but more commonly called "Three Mikes and a Steve" for the people in it.  We cut our teeth playing high school dances and church functions.  About this time I remember jamming once or twice with my cousin Rob at his place, and I think it was there that I first played with TJ.

Between years of college, some good friends of mine put together a band we called "Defiance".  We almost named it "Classic Sunday", which was probably a much better name with a better story behind it, but decided Defiance was more marketable at the time.  The band featured future Tongue members Todd Wells as lead vocalist and Steve Quenneville on drums, as well as Shawn Potter and Mike Morrison on guitars and Bret Collier on Keyboard.  I played bass.  We practiced all summer, played one huge gig at the Brown Derby, and that was that.

I took the next 20 years or so off from playing in bands, working hard and raising a family, but dabbling with music whenever I could.  My main musical involvement was to play in Pit Orchestras for local musicals, mostly at the Chandler in Randolph and the Barre Opera house.  I think I've played for a dozen or more, with my favorite being "Schoolhouse Rock Live."

Early in 2006, I was asked to sit in with Native Tongue for a benefit for Todd and Serena.  It was a magical night, and now I'm hooked.

When I'm not making music, I enjoy racing (I was the 2005 Riverside Speedway Cyclone Champion), camping and traveling with the family, and riding my unicycle with the Montpelier Unicycle Club. (www.vtunicycle.com)