FIRST:
I was born in Los Angeles and raised in LA & Orange County, CA.

Music and art were the two things which occupied nearly all of my time when I was growing up. I started singing by "singing-along". I was a kid who always loved to sing along with anything and anyone. I listened to countless hours of radio, began fanatically collecting records when I was 8 years old
and, in high school, joined several garage bands playing bass and sometimes singing back-ups. (Fortunately for everyone, I quit playing bass.) I never studied formally, so I refer to these formative years of listening and
singing along as my real "music school" and "real" practicing. I listened to all styles of music: rock, r & b, jazz, folk, country, classical, musical scores, etc. I taught myself how to harmonize while listening to the Beach
Boys. I didn't know anything about technique or theory. I didn't care. I just loved to sing.

Anyhow, it wasn't until years later that I unveiled my "secret" singing aspirations and finally got the nerve to enroll in a college voice class. Up until that point in my life I rarely, if ever, sang in public because I was afraid to let anyone hear me sing. Luckily, during my first semester of voice, I met up with a wonderful teacher who encouraged me to learn some jazz standards as my primary focus of study. Quickly I discovered there was
no comparing any previous style of music I had been singing to jazz. Jazz challenged me to raise my musical standards to a higher creative and emotional level, and to seriously begin applying myself to the craft of
vocalizing itself.

After taking a few classes, I then decided to try performing. I played coffee houses and parties for about 2 years. It was fun, but I soon realized that singing jazz standards was hard and not about the dress or how many
pals showed up at the gigs. So, soon after that realization, I decided to quit performing in order to spend more time listening and learning tunes and (what turned out to be) chord progressions. I listened for about 5 years before I started singing again. And, although I might be better known today
had I continued performing those 5 years, it was a decision I rarely regret.


THEN:
Eventually, I decided to try performing again, and began to sing in a few local clubs to good response. I was fortunate to meet up with new musicians who inspired me to take more musical chances and stretch my repertoire past the usual tunes.

In December 2001, I released my debut CD "For now, for later" which featured a fantastic band: John Rangel, Eric Stiller, Mark Ferber, Steve Cotter and Matt Otto. It was a dream come true to be able to record an album that not only sounds great, but also (by some miracle) got played on radio stations KKJZ, KCRW and elsewhere across the country. I had an enormous amount of loving support from the musicians and people who believed in my voice and who helped me accomplish that recording.

NOW:
I continue to reside in the greater LA/OC area. I perform locally at jazz venues, clubs, bars, festivals, restaurants, coffee houses, backyard BBQ's and anywhere else I get paid to sing. I am blessed to sing with some of thebest musicians in this town, and fortunate to call some of them my friends. All have been true inspirations to me.

This year I am re-launching this new web site, actively seeking professional representation and, as usual, seeking gigs! I am also planning to record throughout the year (as money and time will allow) in order to release a new compilation-style album in December.

Since my current repertoire has evolved from strictly singing jazz standards to now incorporate some interpretations of rock, folk and pop, the new album will feature tunes that I like to call "my generation" standards. I'm looking forward to how this project will musically evolve. Although some purists may balk, I don't care. My best hope is to turn listeners on to some songs they've maybe never heard and to some songwriters they might try listening to.

A singer is nothing without the band, the story and the audience. I hope to meet all of you soon. Please come out to the shows and say hello.