I am a native of Tucson, Arizona and received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance in 1989 from the University of Arizona. Following the completion of this degree, I joined the Air Force Band of the Golden West at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. While there, I played lead trombone in various ensembles to include the big band, the rock band and the concert band. In 1994, I won an audition with The United States Air Force Academy Band, one of two premiere bands within the USAF. I played trombone with the Falconaires Jazz Ensemble and was their primary arranger and, for a time, Musical Director. I was also the Head Drum Major with the USAF Academy Ceremonial Band. In 2003, I won an audition for the Ceremonial Brass, an ensemble within The USAF Band Washington DC. While in DC, I also subbed with the USAF Airmen of Note, wrote some music for the Note and other ensembles from The USAF Band. I left the Air Force in 2009 and have now settled in the West Valley of Phoenix, Arizona. I am enjoying performing with many talented AZ musicians, writing new music, and catching up with family and friends.

My music has been featured during performances for the International Association of Jazz Educators conference, the Telluride Jazz Festival, the UNC Jazz Festival, the American Bandmasters Association conference, the Eastern Trombone Workshop, and in public concerts across the country. I have three big band CD's of my original music, entitled "To the Sky",  "New Horizons", and "People and Places" which are available from the Sea Breeze recording label. The Air Force has included my arrangements and compositions on CD's that include: "A Touch of Jobim", "That Long, Long Road" and "Yuletide Treasures" (all by the USAF Academy Band) and "A Holiday Note from Home", recorded by the USAF Airmen of Note. I also have an extensive list of big band compositions and arrangements published with Walrus Music.

To explain my company's name, a "Dead Axe" is a musical instrument that isn't really being used or employed much anymore. After joining the Air Force band career field, I began meeting musicians from all over the country. The consensus so frequently joked about among many was that the trombone was a "Dead Axe"; the reason being that the instrument is utilized a lot less often than it was during the big band era. Additionally, because of the challenges involved with mastering the instrument and it's disappearance off the map, fewer and fewer young music students take up the trombone.

For years I listened to "Dead Axe"-oriented trombone jokes and heard many band leaders say things like, "Boy, my band is really great this year, except for my trombone section. They're horrible." So, I decided to join in the fight to keep the trombone alive, to show that it deserves respect, and to demonstrate to young musicians that it really can be a cool, exciting instrument which makes girls swoon. (Well, at least in our imaginations, it does...) Teachers across the country, like Tom Ervin and Roy Main as well as performers and recording artists like Michael Davis, Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig, Wayne Henderson, Darren Kramer, and Robin Eubanks are doing a lot to inspire young trombone players and show everyone how truly wonderful and versatile the instrument is. I'm pleased to join with them in that effort. My goal is to write good solid music that gives the trombone equal time with the other "Golden Child" instruments. Additionally, I want to make CD's that inspire young (and not so young) trombonists as much as I was inspired by the recordings made by people like Dave Steinmeyer, Rick Lillard, Bill Watrous, Carl Fontana, and a host of others.

As a result, Dead Axe Music was born - my effort to demonstrate that what is sometimes thought of as dead is, in reality, alive and kicking. (Well, I had to have something to do while counting rests in rehearsal instead of ledger lines.) So, I say to the young trombonists, "Stay the course and keep practicing!". To my fellow trombone performers, "Do what you can to inspire everyone around you with your dazzling trombone brilliance!". To my fellow performers who play those "other" instruments, "Lay off the trombonists. If anything, we make you all look good. Don't forget, it's easy to play that fast with all those buttons, switches, and knobs to push. Big deal." And, lastly, to any music contractors out there, "You're missing out when you don't hire as many trombonists as possible. If anything, WE KNOW ALL THE BEST JOKES!!"