I started drumming at the age of 12 when I was inspired by Ringo's iconic groove on the reprise of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band.  Paul counts in 1....2....3....4..., and Ringo lays down a fat groove, on what is the most common and essential  beat in drumming.  I got serious about my drumming in High School, playing in the jazz and concert bands.  I earned the prestigious John Phillips Souza Award and was selected to play in the San Bernardino County Honor Band, Honor Orchestra, and the Allstar High School Jazz Band. I received a solid foundation on the drum kit from my first private teacher, Gary St. Germain.  While at Cal State University Northridge, I studied mallet percussion with Karen Erwin, Latin Percussion with the legendary Jerry Steinholtz, and I played in the concert and marching bands.  I have had the good fortune to have studied privately with some of the best drummers in the world, including Michael Stephans and Tom Brechtlein. I played in numerous rock, dance, jazz combo, and big bands, including the Bill Winters Big Band and the Mt. San Jacinto College Jazz Ensemble.  Currently, I am performing in Southern California with my brother Bruce and the other fine musicians of Jazz City, and I also perform regularly with dance band Guilty Conscience, and the classic rock band, The Rhythmatics. I am now a private drum instructor and musical director at The School of Rock in Temecula, CA.   Buddy Rich, Stewart Copeland, Lenny White, Steve Gadd, Richie Hayward, and countless other drummers have influenced and inspired me greatly.  Drumming is a life-long passion of mine, and connecting with students, other musicians, and audiences is what really makes me tick!