At twenty years old, I tried and failed to overcome a lifetime of being uncool. I spent eight of twelve years of public school in marching band with a trumpet plugging up my mouth. When I finally got it removed, naturally I had a lot to say. So I cast aside my Ave Maria choirboy voice and got my mojo workin'; I nurtured my bad-ass Billy-Joel-loving alter-ego; I taught myself to play slick guitar like Joni Mitchell; and I locked myself up to master the lost art of the story-song. Eighty songs later, I emerged from my bedroom. Tired. Callused. And totally uncool. (That sensitive singer-songwriter stuff just doesn't go over like it used to.)
 

Since then, I've played in lots of uncool bands—bluegrass, folk, folk-jazz, and a jazz-fusion ensemble with internationally acclaimed pianist Jesse Green. In 2002, I showcased at the Delaware Water Gap COTA Festival—the only folk artist ever to play at the all-jazz festival. Talk about not fitting in! I sang on the cast recording of Gary William Friedman's upcoming Broadway musical "Dream Mountain" and was even flown to Hollywood to write songs for an aspiring Miami-based A/C artist. I continue to share my story-songs, playing benefit concerts and small venues in the Pocono Mountains.

Fortunately for me, there's a lot of people out there who appreciate really good, really uncool music. How cool is that?

Biography