I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, my father was a jazz drummer and my mother, a singer. It seemed that I was “genetically destined” for a career in music. At the age of seven, I remember hearing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, and the direction of my life was set. I learned to play the guitar and bass, started singing, and formed the first of many “garage bands” that I would participate in throughout my high school years. I went on to work towards my BA degree in music at a local Community College and then went on to the University of Minnesota. As I studied, my tastes in music broadened and I learned to play the piano so that I could compose. During this time, I realized that I was gifted with the ability to write songs, and began to pursue this gift whole-heartedly. In 1984, I sold almost everything I owned, packed the rest in a rusted-out Toyota Celica and headed for Hollywood to pursue ‘my dream’. I eventually landed a music-publishing contract and, for the next several years, wrote and produced music for records, film and television. Later, I went “corporate” spending a few years as a manager for music production at Walt Disney Television Animation. Early on in ‘90s, I began to ask myself the “what-is-the-meaning-of-life” type of questions. With my wife, I visited the Christian Church of Thousand Oaks, where we eventually became members. It was at CCTO that I turned to the Lord, accepted Him as my Savior, and was baptized. I was beginning to see that God had plans to use my gifts for His glory. I became immersed in the music ministry at CCTO as a bass player, keyboard player and vocalist beginning in 1992. It was there I started to put my songwriting gift to work for the church, and eventually began leading worship. Pastor Scott Wilson (formally my Pastor at CCTO) asked me to come along with him as the full-time Worship Leader and Creative Arts Pastor to plant a new church on the Oxnard plain which was launched on Easter Sunday, 1999 – Gold Coast Christian Church. I’ve been here ever since serving God and the church through my ministry. Recently I have started a web business designed to help worship leaders save time and energy by providing downloadable vocal harmony mp3 files of praise and worship songs. It can be found at: www.praisevocals.com
