The records I first remember being played in my house are still some of my favourites to this very day.
I joined my first band while in high school, and co-wrote my first song. Songwriting became a creative and expressive counterpoint to drawing and painting. Since 1988, I have been writing and recording.
In 1995, I joined the "Crown Jewels", now the house band for the Sunday Night Jam at Toronto's Rose and Crown Pub, and 500 Sunday shows later, at Scruffy Murphy’s nearby.
In the last few years good friend Martin Barret, his wife Nancy Douglas, and I have formed the "Retrofits", a classic pop/rock/original music act. Both musical experiences have given me valued confidence as a player, singer, and songwriter.
Almost coming full circle (in a strangely ironic twist), we now enjoy performing many of the 60s and 70s numbers we love best. Some of those songs were the first I ever remember hearing…
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The records I first remember being played in my house are still some of my favourites to this very day. Artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, the Beatles, Elton John. That music was like sonic DNA or something. Since that time I have heard and loved hearing and playing so much music, yet those first songs have stuck.
In my development as a songwriter, instrument player and singer, I have strived to implement sounds and images from those records. I’ve always loved Lightfoot’s 12-string acoustic guitar tone, Elton John’s piano-driven songs, and McCartney’s melodic, yet fundamentally solid bass playing.
When I was 14 or 15, I found myself in a movie theatre watching The Who’s documentary "The Kids Are Alright". I was astounded by the overdriven bass sound and technique of John Entwistle. I also found his stoic, static approach to his stage presence quite curious and unique. This experience drew me to the bass and that has afforded me many musical opportunities, but time and maturity (well, more maturity) have taught me that the bass line of every song I play cannot be like ‘My Generation’! I like to think that, as a bass player, I can hold things down nicely, but still be able to carve out a unique sound and style, and call upon that when required.
Towards the mid-eighties, I joined "Living Room". We played many of the Queen St. clubs in Toronto, and produced a 4-song record entitled "Asleep", produced by Juno nominee Stan Meissner. The title track had a video and was played on Muchmusic. The record received airplay on Canadian college stations.
"Counting The Days" was my first self-composed musical product. A six-song cassette tape, produced with a four-track recorder. What a blast! I was really turned on to songwriting during this period (around 1988). In 1993 I released "Never Ending Highway". This was a four-song tape, recorded by Dave Boire and helped with great performances by good friends like Martin Barret, Bruce Adamson and Steve Bochenek.
In 2004, "Life Stories" CD was released - a mix of my best numbers from day one onwards.
In 1995, Bruce asked me to consider joining a Sunday night show soon to start at the Rose and Crown Pub with fellow singer /guitarist /songwriter Doug Courtice. Originally just guitars, hand percussion and harmonica, then with the addition of Darrell O’Dea, piano, bass, and three part vocals. As the Sunday night show gathered steam and became a fixture in the Yonge/Eglinton area of Toronto, drummer Jeremy Elliott came aboard and filled out the songs nicely.
500 shows later, the "Crown Jewels" continue to get together every Sunday night (now at Scruffy Murphy’s three blocks east of Yonge and Eglinton) and play seemingly anything and everything! Augmenting every night’s show are performances by guest players.
In the last few years I have been very fortunate to reconnect with Martin Barret- musically of course, but more importantly as friends. Martin had always been singing tremendously. As well, he was always writing fantastic songs and playing guitar, piano and harmonica. When we began discussing the possibility of creating a joint musical act (the "Retrofits"), I was thrilled. I also was looking forward to becoming a better singer and performer with Martin’s advice, support and high level of professionalism.
Martin’s wife, Nancy Douglas, also performs on keyboards and vocals during the live shows. We have a great time getting together, laughing and playing classic pop and rock, as well as our own songs.
Almost coming full circle (in a strangely ironic twist), we now enjoy performing many of the 60s and 70s numbers we love best. Some of those songs were the first I ever remember hearing…