I began playing the drums at an early age thanks to my father drummer who encouraged me by buying me my first drumkit and a handful of Sandy Nelson records at the age of 5. I began taking lessons at the age of six and played along to records by Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Credence Clearwater Revival and Elvis Presley before starting to play gigs at the age of 12. Around the age of 14 I developed a love for jazz and eventually studied at the Victorian College of the Arts under the guidance of my long time teachers Frank Corniola and Virgil Donati, followed by private study in the U.S. with Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith and Joe Morello. I've also had lessons with Graham Morgan, Steve Smith, Tom Brechtlein, Zach Danziger, Dave Weckl, Frank Malabe, Jeff Barnes and Adam Nussbaum.
My credits include 9 years in the drum chair for the popular TV show ‘Hey, hey it’s Saturday’, recording sessions for film soundtracks, jingles and albums plus tours and gigs. Some of the artists I’ve played behind include Tom Jones, Bob Berg, Mike Stern, Tina Arena, Lou Rawls, Andrew Strong, The Commodores, Curtis Steigers, Trisha Yearwood, Zakir Hussein, Ruby Turner, Larry Adler, Joe Cocker, Michael Feinstein, Ray Davies (the Kinks), Ernie Watts, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Daryl Braithwaite, Marcia Hines, Chubby Checker, Margaret Urlich, Dame Edna Everidge, Jon English, Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter, Randy Crawford, Tina May, Justin Robinson, Buddy Greco, Gloria Loring, Roger Daltry, Barry Manilow, Rolf Harris, Billy Thorpe, Ertha Kitt, Hossam Ramsay, Christine Sullivan, Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Venetta Fields, Grace Knight, Anthony Warlow, Linda Cable, Lou Marini, Dale Barlow, John Foreman, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brandford Marsalis, Richie Cole, Al Cohn, Barbara Morrison, Kenny Kirkland, Joe Chindamo, Richard Clapton, Phil Emmanuel, Glen Shorrock, Dale Ryder, Peter Cupples, Don Burrows, Bert Newton, Brian Cadd, Sam McNally, Hot Chocolate, Julie Anthony, David Hirschfelder, Wilbur Wilde’s Blowout, Charlelie Couture, Russell Morris, Daryl Cotton, Jack Jones, Howard Alden, Penny Dyer, Lisa Edwards, Lindsay Field, Marc Hunter, Mark Levine, Laurence Cottle, Steve Pearce, Jackson Browne, John Tesh, Debra Byrne, Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan, Natalie Williams, Martin Taylor, Rene Geyer, Rick Price, John Waters, Thelma Houston, Petula Clarke, The Seekers, Keb-Mo, Human Nature and Olivia Newton John to name a few!
I've had the pleasure of working under the baton of the following musical directors live, in the recording studio and on T.V. - Graeme Lyall, Paul Grabowski, Bruce Smeaton, Bruce Rowland, Tommy Tycho, Greg Mills, Ross Burton, Daryl McKenzie, Geoff Harvey, John Foreman and Burkhard Dalwitz.
In 2003 I released my first publication ‘Groove Perspectives’ that examines various groove styles in the funk/fusion style.
I'm now living in London, I’m currently the Academic Head of Drums at London’s Drumtech where I’ve been teaching since 2005 and am writing a regular column for Rhythm magazine. I’ve also been gigging regularly at London’s 606 Club, The Octave Bar and Boater's Inn in addition to gigs at Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza express and jazz clubs in Germany and France.
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