Naptown Bone Trombonist with more than 45 years experience playing any style of music

I've played trombone professionally since 1979 in jazz, rock, and classical settings. From 1979 to 1985, I earned a Bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Arlington and a Master's degree from Southern Methodist University. 1986, in a moment of clarity after years of the free-lance scene in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I joined the Navy as a musician and served 26 years. For the first 10 years, I played trombone, tuba and bass guitar. In 1996, I was selected for a commission and served as a conductor for the next 16 years. My last tour was as director of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Since retiring in 2012, I’ve played bass and guitar and sang lead and background vocals in acoustic trios and duos. In 2018, I picked up the horn after a 10-year hiatus. Things felt good, so in 2023, I put my information up on another site. A few weeks later, I was hired to play with the Naptown Brass Band in Annapolis, Maryland. I have been playing trombone and sousaphone, and I have written two original tunes for the band. I have subbed with the Dallas and Ft Worth Opera Orchestras, the East Texas Symphony, the Guam Symphony and the Charleston (SC) Symphony. I was also one of the original members of "The Collection" jazz orchestra in Fort Worth, and for a short period, I played bass trombone in Les Elgard's band. I also played regularly in pit orchestras and festival orchestras (green sheet gigs). Currently, my focus has been on New Orleans brass band music, and the Naptown Brass Band gets plenty of work. I would also love to play in a funk band horn section and write horn charts. I am fully retired, so even though the Naptown Brass is busy, I have plenty of time to pursue other performance opportunities.

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