Artist description My music fascination started when I was four or five-years-old and was influenced by several sources. I would spend hours listening to stacks of albums on my parents record player. If I liked a song I would play it several times before moving to the next. My grandmother played a big part in my love of music. She would play her piano and I would watch her fingers hit the keys and wonder how she did it. She loved to play music from the 1930's & 40's. My grandmother gave me my first guitar/amp when I was seven. It was a cheap Sears model but I didn't care, as long as it made sound. I started guitar lessons when I was ten. My parents gave me a nylon string acoustic which I wasn't too thrilled about. I wanted to learn on the electric guitar, but my teacher recommended the acoustic so that's what I got. I took lessons for three years then stopped. I lost interest in the guitar but that only lasted for a year. Something clicked again and the guitar became my obsession. I tried taking lessons a few years later but found that the teacher couldn't take me to the level I wanted to get to. At that point I was playing the guitar as often as I could. As soon as I got home from school I went straight to the basement to play the guitar until dinner time. As soon as I finished eating it was more guitar time. I can remember friends coming over to study and we would go to the basement. Guess what I was doing while everyone else was cracking the books? I played in typical cover bands in high school. My obsession increased when I went off to college. I spent all the free time I could practicing (who goes to lectures classes?). I moved to California with my wife and son to pursue music fame but realized it is hard to be a family man and rock star wanna be. So we moved back to Iowa after two years, finished school, got a real job, bought a house .... you know the story. I didn't buy a nice acoustic guitar until 1998. Up until this point it was all electric guitar. For some reason I felt that an acoustic guitar was limited in its musical possibilities. Since purchasing that acoustic guitar I hardly play my electric guitars. I had no idea that this instrument would grab and hold onto me like this. The music I create with the acoustic guitar is 100% for me. When the songs I write get recorded I feel like it is an entry into a diary. My music is inspired when I feel the need for total detachment from stress and the music just arrives at my finger tips. When I play my songs or write new music it takes me to a place that only I can go. I hope my music can take you to a special place.

Music Style New Age, Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar

Musical Influences Michael Hedges, Steve Vai, Pink Floyd, Leo Kottke, Alison Krauss, Ron Block, Ry Cooder, Jerry Douglas, Hilda Peterson (my grandmother) Its hard to zero in on one influence since I listen to all types of music.

Similar Artists Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Will Ackerman

Instruments 1998 Martin HD28VR, 1976 Les Paul Standard, Tons of recording gear, other electric guitars

Location Iowa City, Iowa - USA

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