They call it "playin" music 'cause its fun... that’s why I love it.

I come from a musical family. My father played alto sax and my mother played coronet. I was the youngest of four kids. My sisters and brother all had piano lessons and played band or orchestra instruments at school. When I was old enough my mother sent me to piano lessons. I was taught to read but it was a frustrating struggle. I am mildly dyslexic and reading music did not come easily. When I was 14 my brother came home from university with a Harmony Sovereign guitar, a Jimmy Reed album and a couple of Sing Out magazines. He taught me a few chords and it changed my life. I discovered I could play by ear and my learning curve took a sharp incline. I picked up a little chord theory and soon realized the simple patterns that made a good majority of popular songs. Because I play by ear, I’ve been able to translate what I’ve learned on the guitar to other instruments. Bass, piano, sax, banjo and accordion to name a few. I’ve learned to understand the rhythm patterns that define different styles and have taught myself drums and percussion.

Improvising, the spontaneous creation of melodies based on chord progressions and rhythm patterns, always intrigues me. I am amazed at how many forms of expression you can create out of just 12 notes.

I’ve formed bands with friends since I was 15. Played for fun and money. In the 1970’s I got together with Barney McCaffery and Ish Theilheimer. We formed the Wilno Express and for over a decade we gigged regularly and recorded two albums on vinyl of original songs. Even though we are now involved in different musical projects we still get together to play and perform. These days I’m all over the road. One week playing blues, the next in a country band, old time fiddle or jazz. I love all styles from folk and fiddle to funk, world, Latin, ethnic and jazz.

In the early 1980’s I figured out a few basic fundamentals I could explain to people that would give them the confidence to play music by themselves and with others. Spreading the joy of playing music has inspired me to set up formal workshops where I teach groups chord theory, ear method, arranging and improvising.