Biography
I
grew up in Staten Island, NY and have always played and written music and
created art of some sort. At 27, I started college and earned my
Bachelor of Arts in English with highest honors. After teaching remedial English
writing, reading, English as a Second Language, Art, Music, and working several
other college assistant jobs, I met up with my cousin, John Tumminello, and
started taking road trips to play music and see the country. Countless gigs
followed, in everywhere from a Waffle House, cafe's, a veteran's hall,
Marquette
University, backyards, to a stage on Elvis Presley Blvd. during Elvis week. I
lived in Nashville for two and half years, recorded a CD in Sun Studio, Memphis
and completed it in Nashville with Elvis ' drummer,
DJ Fontana and Elvis' vocal group, Country Music Hall of Famers, The Jordanaires.
I then recorded a second album in Arkansas (West Memphis) of songs I'd written
over the past ten years and finished it in Nashville (with Elton John touring
drummer, Charlie Rich on one track). Nashville was fun, but I wasn't motivated
to become part of the big-business, "new country" music scene that
dominates the city and feeds its tourist appeal.
Playing
for free or next to nothing was also a huge injustice, so I moved to Illinois
this past summer where I've maintained gigs for the last four years. I've
thankfully managed to sing three to five nights a week for the past ten months,
mostly in bars and restaurants but for many private parties and occasional
weddings. Mainly, I sing and play solo acoustic/electric guitar, harmonica
(blues harp), tambourine, and whatever else I can bang my foot on.
I've
learned that LaSalle County has always had a great music scene, and I've somehow
slowly become a small of it. There are several open mics/jams going on
Tuesdays through Sunday. My goal is to get the bar owners to appreciate these
great and hard-working artists who've kept this town infused with life and
enjoyment for years. I get to play and sing with a lot of great musicians,
namely: Todd Witek, Ric Soens, Steve Cerqua, Tony Alvorado, Joe Majors, Brian
Neumann, Brandon Dyer, Carlo Verucchi, Gary Woitynek, Al Shupp, Steve Sharpe,
Dick Verucchi, Dick Holly, Al Sunken, Nez, Brian Dean, Randy LeDuc, Kat
Blomquist, Dan Webb, Dave, Jim and Nick Tarnoswki, James Sprong...
In
the spirit of my late grandfather and incredibly talented sister, I still
love playing my first instrument, the drums, and recently joined Brian
Dean and James Sprong in a new band called Faded Minds. These youngins can
really tear up some incredible blues, classic rock, old country, Hank III,
Dylan, and a lot more great stuff. I also teach guitar occsionally at
Valley Music on Marquette Street, LaSalle. Besides playing and teaching, I
love photography, making short films and videos, drawing, writing,
watching movies, reading (large books, occasionally, but I'm always
keeping up on pop culture and social studies). I also enjoy philosophy, Al
Pacino, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Adam Sandler, and most Rocky movies; Tim
Burton, R. Crumb, Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell, The DaVinci Code, most
Elvis biographies, James Dean, Bettie Page. Also a fan of
Springsteen, Elvis, Beatles, Queen, Bobby Darin, Cyndi Lauper, Bettie
Serveert, Patty Griffin, U2, Amy Winehouse, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams
Sr., The Stylistics, The Temptations, Gladys Night and The Pips, Roberta
Flack, Buddy Holly, Dean Martin, Niel Diamond, Prince, Barry Manillow, the
50's through the 90's, and some new stuff.
I
like living in a small town and appreciate the
amount of work I've found here. Trying to entertain endless folks out for
a drink after a long workday is not an easy job, but can be very fulfilling most
of the time. Spreading the enjoyment I've gotten from hearing live music
performed is a valuable contribution to society and often doesn't get the
respect it deserves. Success should not be judged by how many tabloid covers
you've appeared on, millions earned, or fashion trends you've started, but the
value and integrity of your work. Taking life one day at a time.
