Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, harp and mandolin by yours truly.
Influences
Beatles, Badfinger, Al Kooper, Alan Parsons, The Band, The Beach Boys, BS&T, Boston, Bruce Hornsby, Bruce Springsteen, Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, The Byrds, Buggles, The Doors, Dave Edmunds, David Lindley, early Deep Purple, Eric Clapton, Guy Clark, Tom Rush, Steve Winwood, Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, The Eagles, Pure Prairie League, ELO, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Gerry Rafferty, Chris Gage, The Hollies, Larry Keen, Iain Matthews, James Taylor, Hendrix, Jimmy Webb, Joe Walsh, Journey, Lovin' Spoonful, Moody Blues, Monkees, Neil Young, Nickel Creek, NGDB, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Tom Petty, Richard Pollack, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Poco, Procol Harum, Roy Orbison, Steve Goodman, Stephen Stills, The Police, Toto, Vanilla Fudge, The Who, Yes, The Young Rascals, Blank & Jones, Liquid Mind, and Vangelis just to name a few.
Sounds Like
Bits and pieces of all of the above mixed with some strong NE New Jersey roots, a good bit of SoCal, a touch of W.Va, all filtered through Austin TX.
Rock & Roll block dances in the late 60's (North Jersey), working cover and original acoustic bands in the 70's (W.Va and SoCal), more working and touring rock bands in the 80's (SoCal), becoming a sound designer and soundtrack composer for video games, moving from F/T rock bands to P/T sequenced duo and solo gigs and then re-discovering coffeehouses in the 90's (SoCal and Maine). I moved to Austin TX in 1999, the "live music capitol of the world" and I've been gigging and recording here ever since.
I have spent half my professional life leading or co-leading good working bands and the other half chasing the brass ring with original musical projects, either as a sideman or stepping out front. I've been fortunate to have shared the stage with a bunch of really talented musicians throughout the years...and also a few who were in it just for the party.
I got my first record contract with MCA records in 1979 with a band called "The Strangers" from San Diego CA. It was a singles deal that had a shorter shelf life than we'd hoped. I was in several bands between 1978 and 1992 that came close to the "bigs" (ie: R.J. Keen Band, Radio Romance, Indoor Fireworks, Streetheart) but like many other bands before and since we simply didn't make the final cut.
I appeared on several records through the years, mostly with other bands and songwriters. I finally was able to release a compendium of 15 years work in 1998 on a critically-acclaimed CD titled "Cheshire Moon" on Outer Green records. I released a few EP's during the next few years and then surprised everybody with an ambient chillout instrumental album titled "Lake Affect" that's still getting airplay on ambient and New Age stations worldwide. Both these albums are available digitally on iTunes and several other online sellers.
My foray into sound design and soundtrack composing for video games was a great segue into a more stable and still very creative career. I made a personal choice in 1995 to leave Sega and move to central Maine to start a new life with an old flame. Four years later I found myself leaving Maine and setting up shop in Austin TX.
After a couple more years in video game development I went back to chasing gigs for a living which brings you up to date. I currently work solo and as a sideman for several acoustic acts in central Texas and occasionally get to showcase my own material as well.
I also produce the Austin Connection podcast series that features fine acoustic performers in half-hour interviews with exclusive live performances. I've also produced, performed on and mastered dozens of albums for many other performing songwriters.
Music remains my bliss, the music business...well, I'll have to get back to you on that.
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Jeff, was that you I saw tonight singing harmony vocals at the Evangeline Cafe? Amazing likeness! Great to see you out - thanks for the support; I'll catch your gig next. Mark
Hi Jeffrye, glad you are still doing music i love the arrangement to ALL ALONE i remember when you did way back always been a fan strangers, east west, radio romance.... do a smokin' blue grass version of .......TAKE ME WITH YOU i'd buy it!!! world peace ec
