"I Play For The Song"

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: I work quick and I try to understand what the client wants. I tend to hear the final mix in my head - as a drummer and producer.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Drumming - Producing, editing, time aligning, and mixing. Okay, that is more than one...

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: As a drummer cutting a drum track, I like to know the direction the song will go in. Specific genre or samples of styles that are similar. Well, then sometimes - we just go for it! As a producer or mix engineer, I like to be able to add to the mix via percussion or keys and fx when necessary to complete a song or mix.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Cubase 11 Pro on iMac with Slate Digital and Waves plugins. Preamps are Focusrite Clarett 8PreX and Clarett Octopre. Sennheiser, AKG, Shure mics.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I wrote a music cue for Oprah's Next chapter tv series and played drums on the theme song.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Just finished a release that is heavily influenced as if Steely Dan meets broadway.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Steve Reich, Victor Samalot. Pretty much anyone I've worked with with good reviews.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: A little of both. Analog for the traditional reason. Digital for the modern benefits.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: Do the best I can for you time after time!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The journey of a recording project. Beginning to end.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Most of my clients have let me just play on their track and we make subtle adjustments as needed.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: Public persona because I'm always in the studio.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I can usually tell what they need from their inquiring questions.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: iMac, Generator, Steely Dan cd's (x3)

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started early in my family band at 14 playing clubs. From 18-26 I toured the US and Europe with country artists and played the Opry and many country tv shows. I settled in florida at 26. At 35 I started my own studio producing artists and recording drums for people all over the world. 36 years in the business.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Grooving, funky, and soulful.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Jonny Lang. Because he was a prodigy and he has matured in his last few albums.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always pull OUT the "bad" frequencies in a track or mix.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Singer songwriter, Rock, Country

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Over 30 years of drumming and 20 years of producing.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I am influenced by the technical recordings of Steely Dan and Roger Nichols, the vast artistry of producers Tommy LiPuma, Russ Titelman, Quincy Jones and many others.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: First and foremost, I am a drummer. I play most types of music live and in the studio. I have a drum kit ready to record at any time. Over the last 15 years I've been producing releases for clients, artists and record labels. I love it all!