I was born a fraternal twin and even though I came out first, whenever anyone referred to us, my name always came second. Until now.

Chapter One

I was born and raised in River Rouge, Michigan.
Started narrating, dancing and acting with Evelyn McCullough with presentations in school and within the community.

While in high school started outside theatre interests at Wyandotte Community Theatre in a production of "Godspell." I liked the environment and people so much, I went to Southgate Community Theatre to appear in "Company" then back to WCT to portray "Snoopy" in that summer's production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown."

High school also gave me the opportunity to win two scholarships to attend Interlochen Music Camp. One year as a high school student and my senior year, as a college scholarship recipient to attend the University of Michigan. I enjoyed it so much, I returned as a counselor for a few summers.

Chapter Two

I had the bug. I wanted to sing, dance and act - preferably, all at once. I spent one year at U of M. While having the experience of singing with the U of M Men's Glee Club, I was still yearning to "do it all." I heard from one of the cast members of "Godspell" that a school "up the street" had such a group and I would perhaps be happier there. They were also going to have a new director so I thought this would be a perfect time to start. I left Ann Arbor and headed "up the street" towards Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University.

Chapter Three

At Western Michigan University, many doors were opened and many, many blessings received. I auditioned for "Gold Company" and never looked back. I was initially majoring in Musical Theatre with a minor in Theatrical Dance and taking classical voice lessons. After two years of singing vocal jazz and dancing, WMU decided to cancel the major, due to low enrollment. I switched to Communications and double minored in Theatre and Theatrical Dance. I spent my non-studying hours working at the campus NPR station WMUK.FM I worked my way up from a "behind-the-scenes" board operator to on-air host.

While performing with GC, I expressed interest in doing choreography for the group. Beth Belanger and I became "The Potential Team" and off we went. I became student coordinator for the Phil Mattson Vocal Jazz Camp hosted at WMU and it's here where I had the opportunity to hone my solo singing skills and "finding my voice."

After Beth graduated (sniff), I flew solo and ended up spending many summers at Penn State with the Fred Waring Organization on the staff of the Fred Waring Summer Music Camp, featuring the music legend Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. As I matured and slowly became more confident with my talents, I spent many summers on staff at ShowChoir Camps of America, Mid-West ShowChoir Camps, Summer Music Camp held at the International Peace Arch and various other vocal jazz & show choir camps, clinics and competitions held all over the country, from Michigan to Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. Having the opportunity to meet Phil Mattson, Bonnie Herman, Don Shelton, Gene Puerling, Kirby & Markita Shaw, Mac Huff, Roger Emerson and other musical greats. All the while getting an undergrad degree and touring with Gold Company. We went everywhere. Across Michigan, California and other states and even Canada, spreading the gospel of vocal jazz with wild abandon. Performing with such notable celebrities as Pat Paulsen, The Manhattan Transfer, and Bobby McFerrin. Recording new releases for Shawnee Press, Columbia Studio P/R and Gary Fry in Chicago. Performing at various IAJE and ACDA conferences across the U.S.

I met incredibly talented people, made incredible life long friends and another mentor by the name of Gene Aitken.

Gene, at the time, was director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado. It's here that I was put in another environment of teacher and student, honing choreography skills, finding ways to help singers connect with their bodies while watching and listening to stellar vocal & instrumental jazz performances. It's also here I had the opportunity to meet two influential people; Sharon Broadley and another legend, Mark Murphy.

Sharon's honest telling of the highs and lows of being in a professional group (The Ritz) were eye opening. That and her personality and talent would keep a room lit for many DAYS!! She's also crazy as a loon.

Mark Murphy taught me the beauty of patience and the art of putting together a medley of songs. Two songs with the same title but different sentiment. Experiencing vocal styling, microphone techniques, repertoire, and song delivery from a master. Thank you to both Mark and Sharon. I hope you hear your influences in the CD.

Well, after six years at WMU and GC, I FINALLY graduated and continued singing and choreographing after moving to Chicago, IL. I concentrated on honing teaching skills and choreography with three of the wildest and unpredictable men on the planet; James "Bishop" Parks, Stirling Culp, and Alan Bogovich. Added Show Choir & gospel experience with Stirling & Alan, plus show structure and voice lessons with Jim. One of my clinics took me to Syracuse University for a Vocal Jazz / Show Clinic hosted by Diana Spradling and her vocal jazz ensemble, "Windjammer." While in Chicago, I spent many hours on movie and television series' sets as an extra. If you look real close, you'll see me in reruns of various episodes of the ABC-TV cop show, "Lady Blue." A few scenes in the Gregory Hines / Billy Crystal vehicle "Running Scared", one of many in the crowd during "Ferris Bueler's Day Off", and the Tom Hanks / Jackie Gleason movie "Nothing in Common" - during the film's opening credits, I'm one of the people Tom waves at in the parking lot. I also got a chance during a break, to chat with Jackie Gleason. He was surprised to learn that I was working with and for his long-time friend, Fred Waring. Too Cool!!

Chapter Four

By this time, I felt, as a singer/dancer, I wanted to know more about the techniques of singing to become both a better singer and better choreographer. I decided to attend Syracuse University as a graduate student. While in Syracuse, NY the blessings continued. I sang and taught vocal jazz, studied voice with G. Burton Harbison, was the "Voice of the Orange" during football season, half-time shows at Carrier Dome. Later, I spent many seasons as the announcer for the NY Marching Band Association competitions, also held at the Carrier Dome. Upon graduation, I stayed in the Syracuse area, specifically in Baldwinsville, NY where I became a Junior High Choral Director at Theodore Durgee Jr. High School and singing jazz brunches at Scarlet's Restaurant. Also singing with the award-winning, semi-professional vocal jazz ensemble "Swing Central." Life was good. My students never knew that their teacher was a well-regarded vocal jazz / show choir clinician / adjudicator. Not that it mattered. We had fun.

The Universe has many ways of telling you "it's time to move on" and after 6 years, it was time to move on. I left NY for LA. More friends, more adventures. I thought it was time for me to explore the idea of performing professionally; actually the universe had other ideas. After helping debut Matt Groening's comic company, Bongo. I got a job working at Border's Books & Music and singing show tunes with an entertainment ensemble headed by Kayre Morrison, whom I sang with in WCT's production of "Godspell." The computer geek in me took full reign as a fellow co-worker and I ran the New Media section of the bookstore. The CD-Rom was the fad of the moment while Kevin and I took the store to critical acclaim with our set up of the section. It didn't take long for a CD-ROM company to take notice and offer me a job. I left Borders for Japanese company, Synergy Interactive and months after becoming the "Audience Relations" guru; we re-located from Los Angeles to San Francisco - at the time, the heart of the CD-ROM beast. Not bad for a guy who started out in River Rouge, Michigan.

Chapter Five

In San Francisco, it was "the becoming." I worked for Synergy then became an editor for MacUser Magazine. I auditioned and sang with the world-famous, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus for many years. Long enough to sing on 5 best-selling CD's (The ground breaking work "NakedMan", as well as "Q", "Misbehavin'" with the late Nell Carter, "ExtrABBAganza" and "Exile"). Also had time to direct an all male, gay, vocal jazz ensemble, "Swing Set." The classical side wanted more challenging literature, so I left SFGMC for The Choral Project. Meanwhile, I started developing an idea I'd had in the back of my mind for almost 2 years. The Universe gave me yet another hint of "things to come" with my celebrating turning 40 by auditioning for Cirque Du Soleil. I made it and now have an "active file" with the company.

With that, it was now time to go solo and completely develop 'Intimacy" as a cabaret act. I motivated myself by entering (and winning) the best male contemporary singer in a citywide cabaret contest. A working version of the show was performed to a standing room only crowd. January 13, 2002, Intimacy debuted at The Plush Room. After the success of the show (and an invitation to return to the Plush Room, I decided to record the songs and produce my very first CD.

In 2000, I a friend asked if I would be interested in helping someone premiere a brand new work she wrote for Easter. I met Désirée Goyette and her husband Ed Bogas and never looked back. My love for all things animated told me who they were before I met them. Check out her site, Lightchild Publishing. Also via Désirée, I was introduced to the wonderful world of voiceover work at Creativity. A truly wonderful group of people to work for and I hope our professional relationship grows more and more.

So, during the day, I'm an Executive Administrative Assistant for two great bosses at PRN and after work, I'm either singing somewhere or doing voiceover work. Ok, enough about me - I'm bored. I most certainly hope you enjoy "Intimacy." As you have read, I've been blessed with some truly wonderful opportunities / life experiences. It's my hope the blessings will continue and you have been equally as blessed.

"Faith makes things possible; it does not make them easy." - Anonymous

"Life's like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending…." - The Muppets