johnny the clock
There really isn't a time in my life where I can't remember playing the drums. At age 3, my parents gave me my first drum kit... and, thankfully, they never once discouraged me from makin' all that noise.
My professional career/training really began in about 1989/90 when I moved from Iowa City, IA to Minneapolis, MN to attend Music Tech. (Music Tech is a great school dedicated to preparing young, aspiring musicians for the real world.)
While at Music Tech I had the luck and honor to study under some GREAT teachers including department head Gordy Knutdson. In addition to being an incredible teacher, Gordy is very busy in the Minneapolis recording scene and has been Steve Miller's drummer for many years now.
Paul Steuber was another teacher there that I developed a great friendship with (to say nothing of all that I learned from Paul). Paul is one of those guys who plays all styles REALLY well!
While in Minneapolis/St.Paul, I was exposed to lots of great and different music. If you are ever in town, you HAVE to go to Bunkers Bar and Grill...and go on a Monday night. There you will see The Legendary Combo. The Combo is one of the best bands you will ever see (with Michael Bland of New Power Generation fame behind the kit)!
In 1993, after graduating from Music Tech, I landed a gig with Hot Rod Chevy Kevy / Powerplay in Sioux Falls, SD. We toured around the country in a bus playing 180 - 200 dates a year, part of the time doing our own thing covering great music of the 50s, 60s and 70s... the other part of the time backing up acts like The Coasters, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Tommy Roe, Leslie Gore, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Del Shannon, Lou Christie, Sam Moore, Bowser... the list goes on. Working with all of these acts was an incredible experience.
While working with Powerplay, I also met this chick singer, Jeanne. We were best friends for about four years... platonic roomates even... loved touring together and had so much in common... so much fun. I knew she was it a long time before she'd admit it. Finally, she came around. We started dating in 1996 and have been together ever since. In 1998, we got hitched and things just keep getting better.
Which brings me to the year 2000 when we moved to Nashville. Since then, I've had the opportunity to work with so much incredible talent: Adrienne Young, Highwater, Tony Garcia, Ben Blankenship, Shawn Byrne, Chip Green, Blue Mother Tupelo, Lani Nash and more.
For three years, I had the opportunity to tour around the southeast playing some great soulful music with friends, Ricky and Micol Davis of Blue Mother Tupelo.
In 2006, I began a new musical adventure with LeeRoy Parnell. He's one soulful cat who loves music and wants to make the world a better place with it. Be sure to check the calendar to find dates near you. Come out to a show or two... and be sure to say "hello" when you're there.
Feel. Groove. Pocket.
Music... really listening to the music, feeling it and helping others feel it too... that is what this journey is all about.
Thanks for your interest in my musical journey.