Try the BEST MySpace Editor at MySpace Toolbox !----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------Ok, this is what it is. I've been playing some musical instrument since I can remember. Started out on the drums (1 snare only) when I was about 7, then hooked up with the clarinet for a couple of years. I moved on to the Eb alto sax through my junior-high days then bought my first electric bass (St. George, 3/4 scale) in 1966. Noodled around for a while mostly learning the melody lines of songs like "Pipeline" and "Walk don't Run", stuff like that. Didn't have a clue what the function of the bass really was. In 1970, I was introduced to a very good guitar player (Mike Russel). We jammed one day and I completely embarassed myself. Didn't know squat. So I decided to get serious about the instrument and started taking lessons. By 1972 I was playing with "The Rhythm Dukes", a Boogie/Blues band with Steve "Wildman" Wurz, Joe Ferraro and Greg Rye. Went back to college in 1975 (Mt. San Antonio) and hooked up with Trombone legend Ashley Alexander. Ashley directed the lab jazz bands, and put the fear of God in me. I quickly learned to read notation as well as charts. It was through the Mt. San Antonio College Jazz Band that I met John B. Williams Jr. He was gracious enough to give me private lessons for a couple of years. He's a monster. Scared the hell out of me. Great guy. I just wish I had my stuff together more back then. I eventually hooked up with Nick "Knucklehead" Calendrino, Mark Davey, Ken "LZ Stud" Maples and Javier Lopez and formed "G.I." in 1981. Played the L.A. rock circuit doing gigs with bands like Motley Crue, Black Flag, Black and Blue, The Gumbys....you get the picture. Post G.I., I played in various bands; country, neo beatnik (Zen Dadio with Rick Arbuckle) and jazz (with Frank Jansen, Val LaMar, Billy Haurbauer and Bobby Williams). Then I decided to go back to my roots. That's right, the Blues. Played with slide guitarist Stan West for more than 10 years(Stan West, Dave Childers, Jay Loeffel, Freddy Adams, Eric Tice) and got to lay down the bottom on his 2nd CD "West Coast Slide" with guitarist Jeff Ross. I was the house bassist for "Babes and Ricky's", L.A.'s oldest blues club for 3 years or so playing with sax great Bill Clark and "The Mighty Balls of Fire" with Eddie Lee Harris and Zac Harmon among others. Had the great privilege to be a part of Miss Mickey Champion's "I am your Living Legend" live cd, recorded at "Babes and Ricky's". I had a great time playing with "The Blues Brokers" with Rick Alossi and Ed Moreo and "The King Snakes" with Johnny "Lightning Boy" Main, Jeff Hunter, Eric Tice and Jay Loeffel. Got together with the King Pins (Brett Miller-keyboards/vox, Jeff Lucas-guitar/vox, Leo Badger-drums) and we received the "Blues Band of the Year" award at the Pasadena Blues Festival. I'm now living south of L.A. and am currently working on 2 new projects: "BIG FIFTY" with GREG TINSLEY-Guitar/vox, LEO BADGER-drums, ELDEN LISALDA-Guitar/Sax/vox, and TOMMY BELLONE-Keyboards/vox. So far we've received a lot of positive feedback from friends and musicians alike not only on our name but also on the music we've been working on. I'll keep you posted on that one. And "The 7th Sons" with NICK CALENDRINO (Guitar, Vox), BILL MCFADDEN (Drums, Vox), TOMMY BELLONE (Hammond/Keys, Vox) and ELDEN LISALDA (Guitar, Sax, Vox). BUT IN THE MEAN TIME, CHECK OUT "BIG FIFTY'S" MYSPACE PAGE.......www.myspace.com/bigfiftyband AND "7TH SONS" MYSPACE PAGE............. www.myspace.com/7thsonsrock ----------------------------------------Here's a partial list of some of the people with whom I've had the great privilege of sharing the stage: Deacon Jones, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Benois King, Coco Montoya, Mickey Champion, King Ernest, Johnny Dyer, Robert Lucas, Finis Tasby, Johnny Tucker, Johnny Turner, Joe Houston, Leon Blue, Johnny Vato, Louie Belson, Rick Holmstrom, Eddie Daniels, Lady GG, Ray Brooks, Jewel Akins, Stan West, Johnny"Lightning Boy" Main, Bill Clark, Eddie Lee Harris, Zac Harmon, Thee Rhythm Kings, Gino Matteo, Big Rockin' Daddy, Nathan Frost, Amanda Mosher, Max Bangwell, Job Striles, Teddy Lee Hooker, Ron Felton, Big Son, Billy Yates, Chicago Red, Jeff Ross, Buddy Reed, Kenny "International" Walker, JJ "Badboy" Jones, Dennis Jones, Stanley T, Ray Baily, Mississippi Millie