I grew up in Levittown, NY and lived there for 18 years.  Right after high school, I started working - and moving  I have lived in about 10 different locations on Long Island, and also enjoyed a short time living in California.

I am the youngest of four children.  My mom and dad were both musicians and my grandmother was the famous actress, Wini Shaw.  My dad played saxophone in the Joe Venuti orchestra and met my mom on the road.  It's no wonder we all have a love for music, although the only thing my sister can play well is the radio!

As far as I can remember, there was always music in my home.  Both my brothers played in bands at the house and we constantly had the police knocking at the door trying to keep the neighborhood quiet.  I started playing guitar at age nine when my brother gave me my first electric guitar.

I started learning music from listening mostly.  I had phases I would go though, mostly from the influence my older brother had on me.  When I was about 12 or 13, I had learned most of the songs on the Allman brothers Fillmore East album.  I was playing with my older brother Dave in a band and actually played a few clubs.  We were doing all the stuff from that time; Led Zeppelin, the Who, the Stones, all those rock bands   I wouldn't say that was the best situation for a thirteen year old.  My dad had already passed away by that time.

It was about that time when I heard my first Yes song.  Once again, it was the older brothers influence.  Close to the Edge was an album that just had me baffled.  I can recall listening to the title track and just not being able to understand exactly what I was hearing.  What is that guitarist playing?  It was way different from Duane Allman, that's for sure.

Once I got my own copy of Yessongs, I started learning all the songs.  I went thought a phase in my life when I was a Yes fanatic.  When the band came to town, I'd go to every show.  I continued to push myself, learning more and more Yes.  It was quite an education actually.  I'm sure I wouldn't have half the skill if it wasn't for learning those songs.

About the time I was twenty, some musician friends, and my older brother had started telling me about how they found God.  It was a strange sort of thing for me at first.  I had always believed there was a God, but I thought He was much too big to be concerned with me.  I began to learn more about who God really was, mainly from the late night discussions that would go on after music rehearsals.  I will always remember reading a little pamphlet describing how I would one day stand before God and that I would have to give an account for the way I lived my life.  There is a scripture, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  The pamphlet explained that scripture in a way that became very clear to me.  That was September, 1981.  I put my trust in God and made Jesus my Lord.

The year 1988 was a very critical time for me.  It was a time when I clearly had two paths I could choose.  One was right, the other was wrong.  We don't always choose to do the right thing and I paid the price.  It was clearly evident in my heart, that I had walked away from God at that time.

I continued to feed the pigs for about ten years.  Ok, I wasn't really feeding pigs, but it was very similar.  There were very few moments when I would be lying in bed, where I just felt God waiting for me to return to Him.  All I needed was to turn from my own ways and start obeying him.  It was during those ten years that most would label my 'success' years.  During that time I became a fairly good bowler and bowled a perfect game, I started entering in Bass fishing tournaments and won many events.  I actually won the Angler of the Year title with the Long Island Bassmasters.  During all these activities, my first son Jeff was born.  After I conquered the fishing, I started racing cars.  I did very well in the race school and was making great progress in the races.  I had a number of second place finishes and was on my way to my first win.  Then my life fell apart.

I had lost everything.  My wife was tired of being second and wanted out of the marriage.  I lost my wife, my son, my home - all the security I had was suddenly gone.

I was at the end of my rope, almost literally when I called my dear friend Frank.  Frank was one of my friends from back in 1981 when we became Christians.  I hadn't seen Frank in about 5 years when I called him and asked him if he could meet with me.  I literally cried the details to him, telling of the horrible situation I was in.  Finally he said, "I can't guarantee that God will work a miracle in your relationship, but I can guarantee He will give you peace to get though anything else you may face in this life.  Recommit your life to Him and fulfill your reason to live".  Those words were like life itself, and I've never looked back.

I have a wonderful wife Karyn and a growing family.  What I love most about Karyn is the fact that she too, puts her trust in God.  Relationships are easy when things are all rosy.  It's when things are tough - that's when the covenant is put to the test.  We both answer to God and we have strong convictions about keeping that covenant of marriage.  I've made God, my family, and our church my priorities.