In The Beginning

My Dad has an immense appreciation for greatness in music. His album collection had all the jazz greats, and the house was ALWAYS filled with music, constantly. The stereo was the entertainment, as opposed to television. My Dad was into all styles, so he would go from playing Miles Davis, to Thelma Houston, Crosby, Stills & Nash, to Rush.......and as far back as I can remember, I wanted to listen to records more than playing outside. I knew from childhood, that I was going to be a musician, and that was it.

Screen Shot 2014-01-12 at 12.39.39 AM.png

One day, when I grow up, I'm going to be a serious musician......

My Dad used to work for Rickenbacker guitars, not to mention that he always had guitars around the house. He loved to play and sing, and he was damn good at it. Once my Dad handed me my 1st guitar, that was it. After that I carried my guitar everywhere. Every classroom for all my years, every trip, on the bus, on my bike, I never missed a day of practicing.

DAMN THOSE BRACES USED TO HURT....

My brother & I

Jimmy Page Inspired.......

Every night it was a party in our apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans. My Dad would have his guitar, and Mike my buddy played some serious drums, and my friend Phil would bring his guitar and we'd play & sing for hours. Oddly enough, no one in the building ever complained, except when I did my Eddie Van Halen imitations........ TOO LOUD !!!

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)

This was my classroom at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. This picture appears in LIFE Magazine, Dec 83 issue, page 156. LIFE Magazine did a story on Wynton Marsalis, and us, which they referred to as the future young lions of jazz. That's me in the middle, my classmates Harry Connick Jr at the piano, Reginald Veal on Bass, Tyrone Williams, and Wynton Marsalis. Wynton and Branford Marsalis's father, Ellis Marsalis, was our teacher. That man had a profound effect on every one he taught. He taught us what it meant to be great. What being a professional was all about.

"Practice, Practice, Practice, & Preparation, all else will come".

"Genius's are the one's who pay attention to the details".

"Be relentless in your pursuit of excellence"