Mom was fond of jazz piano. My uncle played jazz trumpet. They would spin Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and other great jazz records all the time. As babies we listen to sound, duplicate it in our mind and then mimic it. Everybody does it; it’s not a unique skill. Just that I was doing the same thing with complex time signatures, harmonies and scales I was hearing without even knowing the difference!
At six I began studying music, piano and voice with Joanne Montesanti in the church choir. Soooo many great voices come out of choirs! I performed piano recitals and a lead vocal role backed up by the church choir on the radio. That was cool. Radio, as a kid!
Then another uncle showed me his tape recorder. It was like magic to me. I still can’t get over it.
At eleven I began writing and recording songs. I think everyone goes through some sort of pubescent rebellious phase in their life. Songwriting was my way to become an adult, free-thinking individual.
In high school, band director Frank Montesanti encouraged me to learn saxophone. Throughout high school, I performed in the school band, the school chorus, took guitar lessons, and performed folk masses in church. Conveniently, I also learned to play drums, electronic keyboards, synthesizer and anything I could get my hands on to record my songs.
