1. When did you start dabbling in music?

I grew up in New York City listening to AM radio in the early / mid 60s. There was also a lot of gospel music at my family’s church and accapella groups in neighborhood storefronts. I got my first guitar and started lessons when I was 10 years old. It was a Harmony arch top. I think my parents rented it. After seeing The Beatles on TV in ’64, I started learning their songs and that was it!

2. What training have you had?

As far as recording, it was totally on the job. I was very fortunate to apprentice at Blue Seas Studios, a George Massenburg built facility near Baltimore MD. It featured George’s prototype parametric, programmable console, Sontec compressors and EQs plus lots of vintage tube mics. The facility had it’s own mastering lab and lathe as well as a record pressing plant. While I did have some formal music training, I consider myself “self taught”.

3. When did you get into recording?

About the same time I started playing music. My aunt gave me an old Webcor mono reel to reel. It had a built in amp and speaker. When I got my prized 62’ Gibson SG the Webcor became a guitar amp with great distortion! A few years later my friend and I got two Sony stereo decks and I started overdubbing.

4. People you have worked with/for?

The first day I walked into Blue Seas Studios I met Little Feat who were recording “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now”. At the same time they were working on Robert Palmer’s “Sneaking Sally Through The Alley” LP. Bonnie Raitt, Emmy Lou Harris, Van Dyke Parks and Earth Wind and Fire were just some of the artists that came through Blue Seas. Since starting in advertising, television and radio I have worked with some diverse folks, Johnny Cash, NRBQ, Cal Ripken and Walter Cronkite to name a few. As a staff composer for Bunim-Murray Productions in LA, I have written music cues for NBC, MTV and FOX networks. I am currently a freelance sound designer and mixer for The Discovery Channel and working with independent production companies that produce shows for ESPN and PBS.

5. Why are you so good at training people?

I love what I do and enjoy sharing my experience with people. Also, my wife and much of her family are teachers. I have had the benefit of seeing how they interact with their students. Making these videos has allowed me to evaluate what I do, organize and put the process into words.