Member Profile

Today is Nov 4, 2019.

I grew up and live in Nova Scotia, Canada. I am 59 years old and retired from a successful career as an Agricultural Engineer, Business Person, Leadership Coach, Research Scientist, and University Professor.

Musically, at the urging of my parents (both semi-professional Country Rock musicians), I started taking piano lessons in the Fall of 1967 when I was seven. In the Spring of 1968 I entered our local Music Festival Competition. My teacher entered me in both the 7-yr old and 8-yr old classes. I placed second in the 7-yr old class because I played the first verse twice instead of the two verses. Dah! But I tied for the win in the 8-yr-old class. Whoopie! For a 7-yr old I was pretty happy! By the time I was 10, I had completed the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 6 examinations, but my heart was not in playing piano. I wanted to be a drummer! When my piano teacher died in early 1971, I stopped taking piano lessons. I started taking drum lessons in the Fall 1971.

My drum teacher was a wonderful gentleman with greying hair and a big moustache named Ed Jardine. Ed had graduated from the Berklee School of Music many years prior. He made hand-drawn and lettered graphic art signage for local merchants during the day and taught drum lessons in the evenings.  He was a superb musician who could, as if by magic to an 11-year-old boy, float effortlessly around his drum kit playing rhythms of any genre. I remember his kit like it was yesterday; so beautiful and shiny. It had Ludwig White Marine Pearl shells shod with REMO CS Black Dot batter heads. Nine drums in total including two bass drums. All six cymbals and hats were Zildjian. Oh, what a joy and privilege to be able to learn on such a fine kit.

I passionately progressed quickly through the rudiments and moved into learning rock rhythms on the full kit within nine months. In the Spring of 1972, I gave my first solo performance as part of my elementary school's grade six talent show. I played along to a recording of Down on the Corner by CCR. The applause after was intoxicating. I studied and practised, and practised, and played almost every day. I was lucky that my parents and siblings put up with the banging and smashing noises (to them) coming from the rec room in the basement of our house. When I was 13 though, Ed had taught me everything he could. I was playing full double bass, syncopated rhythms, independent left hand and bass, and sight read any sheet music he would put in front of me. He had taught me Rock, Jazz, Latin, Funk, and Blues. And I was playing all the hit Rock songs of the era at home. Didn't matter what rock band or song. I would listen to each song over and over, section by section until I could play it exactly as the band's drummer was playing it.

As luck would have it, the drummer in my parent's country rock band quit in the summer of 1974. They began a search for a new drummer. They tried a couple out but were not happy with them. I said I could do it if they would just give me a chance. They said they would love to have me play with them, but my age was a problem as they played in liquor licensed venues— I was 14 and the legal drinking age was 18. My Dad contacted the Liquor Commission and pleaded my case with them. The Commission eventually agreed to grant me an exemption if Mom and Dad agreed I would stay away from the bar area wherever they played, and because I would be with my parents. Whoo...hoo! It was a Country Rock band that played covers of the current hits played on the radio, and Old-time Fiddle dance music, but I didn't care. I was going to get to play in a real band in front of real people as they danced away the night.

I proceeded to learn their playlist and by September I WAS READY!  We played the local circuit three weekends a month on Friday and Saturday nights; sometimes on Thursday's too. On our off weekends, I began to get calls from other bands in the area to sit in for their drummer, which I willingly did. I enjoyed playing with the other musicians and they liked my style and solid on-time beat. I played steady like this for six years, until in 1980 it was time for me to go off to University in Montreal to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Engineering at the Macdonald Campus of McGill University. So, off I went with a couple of suitcases of belongings. In hindsight, I should have found a way to take my drum kit with me, but I didn't.

I got married and life became very busy for me. There was no place in it for me to get back to playing the drums. So, I just considered myself retired from playing since 1980 onward.

Fast forward to 2009 when life provided me the opportunity to get back to drumming. I bought a new Roland V-Drums TD20K kit and a TDW-20 Brain Expansion Module. For a digital kit, it has a realistic playing feel and the sounds it can make are incredible. I was physically "rusty" but my brain remembered everything. It wasn't long before I became proficient again.

My musical highlight of my life was in 2010. I attended the Cape Breton International Drum Festival. It was dubbed the "Year of the Legends", and little did I know it would be the last festival. As luck would have it, a good friend's Sister and Brother-in-Law (Bruce and Gloria Aitkens) were the organizers, so she arranged for me to be part of the festival group. I took my kit with me and set it up in my hotel room.

What an experience I had. For three days and nights I soaked in the stage performances and masterclasses of some of the drumming world's legends: Alan White, Dom Famularo, Danny Seraphine, Liberty Devitto, Bill Cobham, Carmine Appice, Denny Seiwell, Bernard Purdie, Roxy Petrucci, Troy Lucckettta, Michael Schrieve, Jerry Mercer, Skip Hadden, Paul Wertico, Chad Wackerman, Virgil Donati, and Pete Lockett.  I ate with them, drank with them, partied with them, and shared stories and memories with them. For that weekend I was welcomed into the international drumming brotherhood with open arms.

Today, I am still inspired by that experience!

In 2014, however, I became afflicted with a suspected inflammatory autoimmune muscle disorder. I was essentially bedridden. That ended my physical ability to play drums. Today, my physical condition has improved and I can get around quite well, but am still unable to play drums for more that about 10 minutes before my leg muscles give out on me.

Not to be deterred from drumming, In 2017, I decided 'well if I can't play anymore, I can at least pass on my knowledge and skills." So, I began teaching a couple of youngsters. One is the grandson of a close friend. The other one is my grandson, so that is extra special for me.

In 2018, I turned to writing music as a way for self-expression and dealing with life's stressors. I have a few song lyrics almost ready to put music to. When they are ready, I will publish them for all to enjoy.

In mid-2019, I had a deep seated urge to learn to play guitar. So, I bought an acoustic guitar at a yard sale and began taking online lessons. I'm making good progress, but my finger callouses are still not developed enough for me to play for more than about 20 minutes. That will come in time. Until then, I am enjoying learning. And I have learned some pretty high-level Lutherie skills too. I've completely refurbished and intonated two acoustic guitars to better than new condition. What a huge difference in their appearance, playbility, and sound.