My earliest musical memories start at the age of 2 or 3. I remember sitting in front of my family's cabinet-style stereo. I was completely overwhelmed, sometimes to the point of tears, by the passion of the music. The next step took place about second grade, when I found my mother's Surfin' USA album. I played it over and over, and danced around the living room until I couldn't stand on my feet. These two memories were the start of the inevitable.

Eventually, a few of piano lessons were followed by my entrance into the school band (go band programs!) where I mastered several brass instruments. Although I faked an earache to avoid my first trombone solo in church, the performances that followed quickly showed me that I enjoyed music most when I could share it with other people. I was addicted!

As my senior year of high school was winding down, a friend gave me a Silvertone guitar with only three strings. Although limited by the guitars abilities (let alone my own), I suddenly found how easily I could write a song; a skill I previously thought was reserved only for those who spent a lifetime studying the intricacies of music. Knowledge of music helps, but I fully believe that one chord is all it takes when the soul speaks.

Upon entering college, I quickly found a new addiction: touring. After touring the eastern U.S. and a month touring in Israel (the highlight of this was playing to tens of thousands in Manger Square in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve), I knew there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, my guitar playing and songwriting were progressing. After a couple of years of playing mostly heavy metal, I decided to get back to writing from my heart. The result was big, bold, rock sound that somehow sounded very Scottish. This was partially due to my love of bagpipes, my Scottish heritage, and the fact that Big Country's 1983 debut, In a Big Country, changed my life forever.

By 1994, I had written enough of these songs to put together a band — Velvet Silence — which included present member Rob Koogler. Oddly enough, our debut was a complete success. Audiences said they were captured by a sound they had never heard before. One promoter was quoted saying:

"...their sound reminds me of UK rockers such as Big Country, The Waterboys and Fairport Convention."
—Mick Montgomery, owner of Canal St. Tavern, in the Dayton Voice.

This was thrilling for the simple fact there were so few Celtic bands at the time. The only problem with Velvet Silence was that the members were busy in other areas of their lives. So the band dwindled away.

Before one of our last gigs — opening for Tempest — Rob and I were playing live on the radio. Sometime during the set, the D.J. asked what kind of traditional music I listened to that inspired such Scottish overtones in my songs. Then it struck me; I could not name a single traditional song! This opened a whole new world to me. While Velvet Silence was on what would become a permanent hiatus, I joined a synth/techno/industrial band called Grae's Assembly. During this time, I also began playing acoustic versions of my songs on the coffee house/open mic scene. Playing solo helped me develop the one man band acoustic sound, which became sort of a trademark.

Through it all, I continued to write and learned a slew of traditional tunes. Suddenly, as a solo artist, I began bookings as a Celtic act instead of a rock act. Feeling the need to expand to a duo, I recruited Jon Kouse, who hosted many of my open mic gigs. We settled on the name Heathen Laddies and quickly became one of the hottest Celtic pub acts in the area. We were soon asked to open for Tempest again. We were obliged to recruit guitar phenom Dennis Delphanich to join us. We also asked Rob, originally a guitarist, back to play bass. The response was so strong following the show, we knew we must form a true Celtic rock band again.

I was elated with this turn of events, because to me, Heathen Laddies was just a fix to tie me over until a full band could form. Immediately after the Tempest show, we asked fiddler Andrew Roof, also a regular on the open mic circuit, to join the band. This way I could still play my "big acoustic" sound, and let Andrew handle most of the lead parts.

We now had a real band. I was no longer obligated to rely solely on myself and my one man acoustic sound. I didn't care. I had a band ready to rock, groove, scream, and stomp to the type of music that bleeds straight from my soul.

Today, the band has evolved into what I had hoped it would with Ric Smith on tenor fiddle and Jeremy Washburn on drums and backing vocals. We can only see what the future holds for us now.