I can't remember the first five years of my life but this is what I was told growing up by my Grandfather (Jerome):
"You were born in Charleston, South Carolina, Grandma and I came to live you with you, your Father and sister after your Mom and Sister passed away when you were 4. I taught you to read your horoscope every day though you didn't understand what you were talking about."
When I was eight, my Dad bought me my very first guitar and tried to teach me how to play. I had no interest, though when I got in trouble, the only "toy" I was left with was that guitar. I picked it up and learned a few chords, then a few songs, and finally wanted to perform at the age of 14 at my high school. I was told, if I play my first show and did well, I would get my first acoustic guitar (what I really wanted all along, thanks Dad). I did just that winning most-talented in what turned out to be a beauty pageant for guys called Striking Viking. It was more of a joke with the format but my talent did shine enough for me to get my first acoustic guitar. I played out more and more, joining a band in college and getting a great following in the area. When it started to become an episode of "Behind The Music"(what a great show!), I went my own way with my best friend/manager at the time, Cassandra and started releasing my own music. I started looking for jobs in NYC to get my music more nationally heard, the day of my last interview for the job, was the day the interviewer's parent passed away. My meeting was canceled and the original day and time was Tuesday morning of September 11th.
After that day, the job market in NYC was bleak, so I moved back to Penn State and started making my own music and touring around. I got recognition in local papers and some LGBT press and more and more folks came out to the shows. Eventually, I went further and further away from Pennsylvania touring all the way to the west coast and back. Releasing more CDs led to bigger opportunities sharing the stage with folks like Cyndi Lauper, Duncan Shiek and India Arie. After 5 years, I didn't know if I was going to stay in music. I released five cds previously and all of them had their own lives and accolades. My first self-titled cd, got great reviews in Penn State local press. 2002's I Go On received attention for the song, "No Urgency" which was requested to be on the HRC's Love Rocks compilation alongside Melissa Etheridge, Christina Aguilera, Dixie Chicks and many more musical heavyweights. In 2003, All For Show launched me into LGBT media with reviews in national publications like Out Magazine, Genre, and Instinct. I also was featured on the front page of gay.com that ended up flooding my email for months after with folks interested in the music. After an attempt at working with hit making producers that wanted to make me some Frankenstein of what they thought I was about, I released 2005's Dark Horse independently to even more press in and out of the LGBT press, including being listed in the 2005 OUT 100 list!
In 2006, Everywhere All At Once contained the song, Bartender, that became an instant hit with listeners and "Thanks" ended up at number 1 for five weeks on Sirius Radio's OutQ station. I released a five song EP There's Gotta Be Something that became the first music video I've ever done. The video spent six weeks at the 1 spot on the Click List, MTV LOGO's request countdown.
In 2007, I was burned to a crisp from driving all over the country going strong for many years. It took about a month or two for me to go through my past and present to start writing my newest release, Resonate. Bringing my life out in the forefront, with references to my family, friends, and those I met on the road, the songs just seemed to write themselves. 2008's Resonate is sure to bring light on songs such as "Little Boy Blue", "For Me", and "Protest Song" reaching new folks and touring even further than before. My best friend said, "Make the cd that is going to change your life", and I think I just did.
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