I’m a Portland, Oregon guitarist, singer, songwriter, & music educator. I’ve taught guitar since the 1970s. You can listen on YouTube.
In 1983, I graduated from Musicians Institute (GIT), with faculty including Keith Wyatt (The Blasters), Scott Henderson, as well as Joe Pass, Robben Ford, and Larry Carlton.
After teaching for the San Luis Obispo School of Music on California’s Central Coast, I moved to Portland, married, started a family and relegated music to ‘serious hobby.’
In 1991, I formed the four-piece jazz/rock band The Working Stiffs. We recorded two albums, Tsunami Tsessions & Time Off (iTunes & Spotify) we played at Portland-area venues and were a premier act for Portland Parks & Recreation’s Movies in the Park series for nearly a decade.
Since 2012, I’ve volunteered teaching kids with mental health challenges at Trillium Family Services, and hosted Guitars-For-Kids fundraisers. In 2019, I hosted the latest event at O’Connor’s Vault, in Multnomah Village with these talented and generous musicians:
Stan Jones: Keyboards & Vocals
Jesse Cunningham: Pedal Steel Guitar
Ray Mann: Bass, Drums, & Vocals
Jamey Hampton: Guitar & Vocals
The previous event included Marv & Rindy Ross (Quarterflash), Lex Browning (Poco), & David Alan Stensen (The Grass Roots, Plan B).
I’m playing gypsy jazz and bluegrass with friends, but the pandemic has us all hunkered down. I look forward to performing & teaching again. In the meantime, you can hear recordings on YouTube.
The Working Stiffs are on hiatus, but you can hear us on Spotify, iTunes, or YouTube.
Peace, muse, & good health!