I started playing a musical instrument when I was in 5th grade. It was a trumpet, I always wanted to play the trumpet, even as a younger child and always reached for those plastic 'toot' horns before I got my real one. I was only ok in band as a youngster and it wasn't until I was in 9th grade and realized that there wasn't much work for trumpet players in the late 60's and early 70's. So I conned my Dad into letting me go down to a pawn shop to buy a bass. Learned playing rock-n-roll in garages, basements and the such. I still played the trumpet and did so symphonically, and jazz bands too. I picked up some guitars and played in other pick up gigs etc. playing everything from r-n-r to blue grass, and country western. Fast forward to the 1990's. My children are taking lessons and wondering why they have to practice so much. I decide to start playing again after 20 years absence, in church in a brass choir. The director asks me one day "If I know of any bass players?", I say sure, because I wanted to play, and these guys from Harrisburg, gave me a chance, and I couldn't believe that after 20 years it could be so easy playing with such a gifted piano player and trumpet guy, that they would even give me the chance to play.... the rest is history.......... I've been influenced by all that have come before me, Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller. The Dorsey Brothers, Gene Krupa, Miles Davis, Jeff Lorber, Stnaley Clark, Blues players, like John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Classical Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, all music has influenced me, and especially my Wife Debbie, who lets me go out on weekend nights and play.....and my father who made me practice when I was small...........
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