I was never interested in playing sports as a child. When other kids were out playing hockey and baseball, I was inside spinning sides on an old turntable, recording them onto a beat up cassette recorder, and playing DJ.
This later evolved into a bedroom done up in Black light paint, coloured lights, and playing air guitar to some of his favourite glam bands. Drove my folks crazy!!!
When the offer of Guitar Lessons was presented, at the age of 12, I was pretty nonchalant about it.
At the end of grade school, I did my first gig in a church basement, under the band name, ALMOST PERFECT . I think one of the letters was backwards in our logo! Armed with a borrowed Electric Hagstrom guitar and amp, we had tins of dry ice everywhere(didnt really create the effect that we wanted!), Spot lights, and a stage crew that out-numbered the band.
After this, there was no turning back.
I started playing French Horn in High School, but that didnt seem to encourage my new found lovePUNK ROCK!!!!
After drilling my head through various ceilings in scary little bars in Downtown Toronto,
I started a new band with a couple of friends in high school, and took a bit more of a bluesy Rolling Stones approach to playing. BUFFALO SPRINGSTEEN, played together for 3 years, later evolving in BACKROADS, for obvious reasons..
Over the next few years, I played the bar scene with various different groups, THE FUZZY DICE BLUES BAND, THE REACH, and later on with BLUE SNEAKERS. Toronto blues fans will remember this band hosting the World Famous Grossman's open stage jam for 10 years. MIDNITE WALK, is currently the band Im playing with, just recently celebrating our 12th year anniversary.
When I started playing full time, it meant branching back out to various styles of music, and a wide array of what in my opinion, are some of the best musicians in the world.
I have had the honour of sharing the stage with, just to name a few, Jeff Healey, Tony Springer, Bernie LaBarge, Joe Hunter (Funk Brothers), Chicago Pete, Jack DeKeyser, The Downchild Blues Band, John Mays.
In addition to 3 regular weekly house gigs, and touring, Ive had the opportunity to play some the best Blues Clubs and Festivals in North America.
Including: Chicago Blues Festival, Detroit Ribs and Soul Festival, The Southside Shuffle, The Canal Banks Shuffle, Mt Tremblant Blues Festival, Blues at Blue, DuMaurier Jazz Festival, Albert's Hall, Blues ETC., Buddy Guy's Legend's, Pop the Gator, The Silver Dollar.
My biggest influences in music have always been Jeff Beck, Little Charlie Baty, and Canada's own Bernie Labarge.
I also strive for the ultimate tone and and to bring a bit of humour to the stage, cuz if it aint fun, it aint worth it GRIZ
