Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, I began playing the drums at the age of 12. Music came naturally as grandparents on both sides of my family were professional musicians. My mom tells me how her dad played banjo in dance bands around the area to help put groceries on the table. In 1991, I met and began performing with Chris Taylor, a local songwriter who was putting a band together. Together with Matt Slocum on guitar (who later founded Sixpence None the Richer), the three of us formed Love Coma. We went on to record two full-length albums for R.E.X. records in Nashville, and toured 26 states and southern Canada. In 1993, Matt left the band to pursue his other interests. It was this departure that provided me the opportunity to record the first Sixpence None the Richer release "The Fatherless and the Widow" produced by Armand John Petri (Goo Goo Dolls, 10,000 Maniacs). This release was critically acclaimed as ?one of the 10 Best LPs of the year? by Billboard Critic's Choice in 1993, and I toured across the midwest with Sixpence during the summer of 1995.After Love Coma broke up in 1997, I continued working with Chris Taylor recording the pre-production demos for what would become Taylor's first solo release "Down Goes the Day", produced by Steve Dady (Wayne Watson) on Rhythm House records. I also toured with Taylor and filmed a video for "God only Knows", the album's first single. During the video shoot I met Ruben V., a Texas blues guitarist in search of a drummer. After performing a handful of shows with Ruben, I accepted the job and while playing with Ruben, I had the opportunity to record his independent release "Home", produced by Richard Mullen (Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson). My two years with Ruben produced multiple San Antonio Current music magazine's People's Choice Awards for "Rock Band of the Year" as well as "Album of the Year" for my work on "Home".At the turn of the new millennium I found myself looking to play with other artists and in search of a higher profile gig. I began playing with Sean Castillo and the Hubcaps, a local roots/rockabilly favorite in San Antonio. While playing with the Hubcaps, I received a call to join Two Tons of Steel, a western swing meets early roots/rockabilly outfit. Within my first 2 months of playing with Two Tons, I found myself live onstage at the Grand Ole Opry, and sponsored by Lone Star Beer! In the spring of 2003, Two Tons recorded "Transparent" and was proud to work with Grammy Award winning producer Lloyd Maines (Dixie Chicks). I have also appeared in two feature films with Two Tons of Steel: "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story" (www.bbqfilm.com) and "Texas: The Big Picture" (an IMAX film about the state of Texas, commissioned by the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History in Austin). On the strength of our indie release "Transparent", as well as the appearances onstage the Grand Ole Opry, Two Tons signed with Palo Duro Records in August of 2004. We worked once again with Lloyd Maines and our first recording for the label, "Vegas", was released June 28, 2005. MusicRow Magazine columnist and music critic Robert K. Oermann had this to say about it, "A twang fest. This four-piece combo is as tight as a tick. A little honky-tonk, a little rockabilly, a little Bakersfield and a whole lotta listening pleasure. I'm digging Two Tons of Steel in a supersized way." "Vegas" did well for us charting nationally at number 11 on the national Americana Music Chart, number 6 on XM Satellite radio's X Country chart, and 11 on the Roots Top 100 Music Chart. The title track and first single "Vegas" climbed to number 7 on the Texas Music Chart.We play about 150 dates annually including our "Two Ton Tuesdays" at Gruene Hall, the oldest dancehall in Texas where we perform to over 10,000 people over 13 consecutive Tuesdays every summer. On June 26th of 2005, I performed for over 1,300 people at the hall shooting for a live CD/DVD dual package which was released earlier this year on Palo Duro Records. It's called "Two Ton Tuesdays - LIVE!" and captures the excitement of our Two Ton Tuesdays every summer at Gruene Hall. We were awarded a gold Remi award at the 39th annual WorldFest video awards in Houston, Texas earlier this year for our "Two Ton Tuesdays - LIVE!" DVD.In my five years with Two Tons, I have enjoyed seven appearances onstage of the Grand Ole Opry, appearances in two films, multiple tours throughout Europe, numerous radio programs both regionally and nationally, and presently I am enjoying touring throughout the United States and Europe. Two Tons has also been awarded 'San Antonio Country Band of the Year' by the San Antonio Current music magazine for over eight years. I currently reside in San Antonio, Texas, with my wife, Crystal, and our five children.
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a message here at MySpace.com or email me at: [email protected] more information on me and up-to-date tour and session news, visit Two Tons of Steel at: http://www.twotons.com
Two Tons Of Steel Live at KSYM
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