The love of drums/drumming was a classic epiphany. On my way to school at age of 10, I walked by a house where someone was playing a Cozy Cole-like drum solo much like Topsy Part 2. It was life altering, as if a force reached inside me and turned on a switch to put me in a trance that never left. I went home after school and started playing on my mother's washing machine with wooden spoons.
First drum set came at 13. Started playing band gigs at 16. Studied with Sam Ulano and learned how to read, but more importantly - the practice ethic.
In my early 20's emerging from 8 hr. a day practicing, and under the wing of Saxophonist Richie Kamuca (Shelly Manne's band) I found myself as sort of house drummer at The Half Note. It was there i got to play with Al & Zoot, Anita O'Day, Chris Conner, Bob Brookmeyer, Jimmy Rushing, a week with Jim Hall & Ron Carter, and other greats like Roy Eldridge. In the late '60's Jazz clubs were closing and it became increasingly harder to make a living playing dotted eighths. I fell in love with R&B and funk. I also enjoyed the recording process, and got very used to sleeping indoors. My career took a left after accepting the job and winning the audition with Stan Getz's band. I took Jack DeJohnette's place in Getz's band and went to London to play Ronnie Scott's.
