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When did you first start singing, playing, & writing?
I started playing the piano by ear when I was 3 or 4 years old. I grew up in a home where there was always someone singing or playing so I guess I really couldn't help it. I started lessons at 5 and began formal training sometime around junior high.
What are some of the schools you attended and do you have any favorite musical memory from 'back in the day'?
I grew up in Philadelphia and attended Larchwood School and Greater Philadelphia Junior Academy. I graduated from Blue Mountain Academy where I got most of my Classical organ training and did a little competing on the regional Classical Piano scene. I ended up in the DC area because my older sister lives here and she agreed to let me live with her while I was attending Columbia Union College. I can't think of any spoiled little brother who would turn that down! ;-) I dabbled in a little bit of everything in college - Graphic Arts, Business Marketing. I even played Junior Varsity Basketball on an athletic scholarship my 1st year but my coach didn't take to kindly to my leaving home games at halftime to make it to choir rehearsals. I graduated with a degree in music (piano) with concentrations in voice, conducting and composition.
One of my fondest musical memories is playing the 1st movement of the famous Grieg "Piano Concerto in a minor" with the Reading Symphony. It was while i was at Blue Mountain. I placed 1st in the Reading Piano Concerto Competition and the winner got to perform his or her piece with the orchestra. The music is very dramatic and I love drama!
How did you know when it was time to make your first recording?
I kind of stumbled into it actually. I never really thought about being an artist. My first love was writing and producing, and my first CD, Love So Real, was actually originally conceived as a demo for my production company. It grew from there into a CD project.
As a musician, what's one insight that you may have into the type of person that King David was.
Passionate! Whatever he did, right or wrong, he did it with everything he had. I also believe he wasn't afraid to fail. I think David had a rare understanding of how complete God's grace and forgiveness is. You live a much different life when you aren't afraid to make a mistake.
The prolific hymn writer Fanny Crosby once slipped the words "He giveth me songs in the night" into a song, which may have been a clue into when she usually got inspiration for her music. When do you find you get your inspiration for writing a new song?
I like writing while I'm on the road, either on tour or just driving. I used to call home and sing ideas on my answering machine. Now I just sing them into the voice recorder on my mobile phone.
Tell us about a special moment you and God shared this past year.
I had a moment when I literally heard God inviting me to spend some "alone time" with Him . . . for no reason . . . no agenda, just because . . . It was probably the first time ever that I've felt like God and I were really friends. I really want to learn to hear and recognize His voice.
For the up and coming artists out there, what would you say are some of the technologies that they should become familiar with?
I do 95% of my work on my computer. There are so many great software programs that can really help you make great music and even save time. I use my computer to do everything from score music for orchestra to record vocal tracks.
I also use the internet to send files back and forth. There's and incredible guitar player I love to work with who lives in Los Angeles. I can send him files over the internet. He records his tracks in his own studio and sends me the files back over the web. I pop them into the track and I'm ready to keep working. There are even programs that allow you to record people in different parts of the country at the same time. With the right hardware you can incorporate video conferencing so the musicians can also see each other 
while they are playing.
Technology also helps me with running my business. I recently added a feature to my website that will allow site visitors to purchase music via download.
For those same aspiring artists, what are some lessons that you've learned the hard way that you can share with them?
I think it's important to keep as many "irons in the fire" as possible. While you're working on one aspect of your music, make sure to develop another option as well. The music industry is so glamorous but i've found that many of the artists you see in the spotlight, quite frankly, aren't making that much money. The music business is just like any other busniness -- things go in cycles. So when I haven't been getting calls to do concerts, hopefully the production work has picked up to offset the lost income. And when the production work slows down, hopefully the arranging picks up or it's a good song-writing royalty month. ;-)
Do you have any tips you could share about balancing family life with your career?
Absolutely. 1) God, 2) my wife, 3) my kids; and everything and everyone else comes after that. Your family is your first ministry and any other "ministry" you profess to have is a sham if hasn't started at home.
I'm sure that your wife Helen will check out this interview. Is there anything that you would like to take this opportunity to tell her?
I always tell Helen that she is everything I never knew I always wanted. ;-) I really LOVE being married to her. It amazes me that I can fall more in love with her but it literally happens to me everyday.
What are some of the things that you are praying to accomplish in?
1) I'd like to do another CD.
2) I'd also like to put an emphasis on developing the marketing and promotion arm of my company, Urban Junction East Music.
When you get to Heaven, what new thing(s) do you look forward to doing musically?
I haven't thought much about what I'll be able to do musically in heaven. I'm more interested in being able to fly!
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