What has possessed me? Initially I thought to write a brief, cohesive bio that encompassed my increasing years. But it wasn't terribly interesting, and it's not as if the masses are clamoring for details. So, instead, elements of my history that matter to this project will appear a chapter at a time.
Chapter One - In 1963 the Beatles conquered the world. By contrast, I was 5, and probably couldn’t ride a bike yet. Even so, music already held a fascination for me, and the AM radio was alive with the sounds of the British Invasion. Certain songs from the early Stones, Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, Animals, etc. still transport me back to those days.
In 1966 the Beatles had a number one single with Paperback Writer. I was 8. The B-side of the 45 was Rain, and I was transfixed. I can remember lying in bed, conducting my own American Idol, pretending to be multiple contestants and vying to sing the best version of the song. I always won.
Chapter Two - The recognition that real music could be performed by a contemporary came at a middle school dance in 1971. I was in 7th grade, wearing red, white, and blue bellbottoms, and I watched Will Dithrich, an 8th grader, play several songs from James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James and Jackson Browne’s Saturate. I was astounded that these note-for-note renditions came from a peer, and it was about this time that I began to play my Dunlop, a tennis racket hung from my neck by a string. A defining moment, truly.
Chapter Three - Sewickley, PA was a wonderful spot to grow up. Largely affluent and cloistered from the real world, the kids here enjoyed an unrestricted social setting that allowed creativity to flourish. Much has been written about the explosion of music in the 60s and 70s, and I was steeped in the sounds of the times from the safety of this lovely, insular town. A long list of musicians became my idols, and were larger than life.
Many of my friends began to play the guitar, and in 1976 I followed suit. At graduation I bought my first guitar for $50, and began to focus on the acoustic music of America, The Beatles, Jackson Browne, CSN&Y, The Eagles, Dan Fogelberg, The Grateful Dead, James Taylor, and more. I was in heaven. One of my greatest supporters in those early years was Jill Collins, a fellow guitarist and wonderful friend. I owe her much, and she has inspired many of my songs over the years.
Chapter Four - I attended Denison University in 1976, and happily spent the next four years without supervision. Here I met the next influential musician and friend, Wink Dulles. Wink was an excellent guitarist and, together with Scott Curtis, we formed an acoustic trio in 1977. Initially we were called Storage, after a label placed on one of Wink’s guitars stored at school over the summer. We later changed our name to Knockwood Annex. Knockwood was an acoustic trio, and although we played a few times on campus, we lacked the equipment, money, and skills to do it right. Consequently, Knockwood became our pastime, and I learned a lot from the advanced skills of both Wink and Scott. Senior year I met Jenny Cunningham, who would become the subject of numerous songs. After graduation, Scott simply disappeared, and Wink and I remained friends until his untimely death in 2001.
No mention of Denison would be complete without discussion of George Greenwood and Brad Sageman. George was the first person I met at Denison (Hi, my name's George. Wanna get high?); we majored in Geology together, and remain friends today. Brad entered the picture a couple of years later, also via the Geology department, and the three of us began playing guitar together. There are some surviving originals, and tales, from this era that may one day find their way onto this website.
