Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. The first music I remember hearing and liking as a little kid was my older brother’s LP of Johnny Cash’s Sun hits. At twelve years old I started listening to the Beatles. My musical taste evolved and I cut my teeth on punk rock/new wave/indie rock. I started writing songs and playing in bands when I was fifteen years old. My first band covered songs by Pere Ubu and Wire.

In the 1980s and 1990s I lived in Iowa, where I played in a band called the Hollowmen. We were part of the indie rock foment of the time, opening shows for the likes of Sonic Youth and Big Black. Played a lot of gigs, wrote a lot of songs, put out a few records, toured the midwest & west coast, made some good friends. After that band ended I attended the University of Iowa and got a degree in visual art.

I’d fallen in love with San Francisco on my first visit, and moved to the bay area in the mid 1990s. It was around that same time that my musical interests shifted to classic country music. I decided I was just better at playing, writing, and singing country music than I was at arty punk rock.

I released two CDs of my original music, Sings Heart Songs in 1999 and Songs That Make The Jukebox Play in 2002. In the 2000s I toured the UK and Europe twice with Scottish country singer John Miller. I also got married and started a family. Beginning in 2003 I took some time away from music altogether.

In 2011 I released another CD of my own music, Wine Stained Heart, recorded in LA. Produced by Rob Douglas, engineered by Pete Curry of Los Straightjackets, and featuring the talents of Brian Whelan (Dwight Yoakam), Dave Berzansky (The Hacienda Brothers), and Les James (Red Meat), I think it stands as my best recorded work yet.

In 2015 I relocated to Portland, OR. Portland has a terrific musical community and I’m proud and excited to be part of it. My band features Andrea Bohon, Keith Brush, Scott Pettitt, and Robin Suskind. You’ll find us playing my original tunes, alongside classics and deep cut covers, at venues such as Strum, the Landmark Saloon, Mississippi Studios, the Laurelthirst, Washougal Times, and Bent Shovel Brewing, with more to come.

My band is currently at work on my first new record in many years, cutting songs with Brud Giles at Fremont Recording. Look for new single releases in 2024.

I also play bass in the Jackson County Kills with Matty Charles, Brian Byrnes, and Kevin Major.