I started to study drums when I was 10 years old in 1965. My first drum instructor was Jerry Beeger at a music store in Holyoke, Massachusetts. During junior high school I studied drums with Pat Sullivan at Washington Junior High school in Duluth, Minnesota.
I studied drums throughout high school and played in the South Hadley High School Tiger marching 100 band, at South Hadley Massachusetts, under the direction of Roger Farnsworth. After graduation, in 1973, from high school, I enrolled in Berklee College of Music and spent 4 years at Berklee, graduating with a diploma in Instrumental Performance, in 1977. I studied with the legendary teacher Alan Dawson the last year he taught at Berklee, in 1975. I also studied with Tony Noterfonzo, David Vose, Keith Copeland and Les Harris Sr. while at Berklee.
I went to Berklee with Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Smith, John "JR" Robinson, Kenwood Dennard, Tommy Campbell, Andrew Weis, Doug Martin, Jun Saito, Bill Frisell and alot of other talented musicians.
From 1977 until 1982 I played with numerous bands in Boston, Mass. Including MCA recording artist, "The Rings".
I also played with the punk rock group "Unnatural Axe" and power pop group "24 Karat", along with other bands.
In 1982 I joined the U.S. Marine Corps and played drums in the USMC band. I played drums with the Marine band from 1982-1988, where I acheived the rank of Sargent and section leader of the drummers in my unit.
I was stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, in 1983,where my beautiful daughter Nichole Lee was born.
I played with the 2nd Marine Division band, where I played the memorial ceremony for the Marines that were killed at the suicide bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon on Oct. 23, 1983.
I lived in Okinawa, Japan for a year and played all over Japan, South Korea, Phillipines, Guam and Australia from 1984-1985.
I was stationed at MCAS El Toro from 1985-1988, where I played with the 3rd Marine Air Wing band and played up and down the west coast of the United States of America including the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California.
Since I got out of the Marines I have played with, and continue to play with, numerous band throughout the Lakes region of central New Hampshire, including Franklin Falls Junction, Linda Jean and the Gamblers, The Five O'Clock Shadows, The Buskers, and the Rusty Rockstar Roadshow.
Semper Fi.
Here is a video of "Soldier Son" that was written by Kevin Avard. I am playing drums on the track.Soldier Son
