After seeing a bunch of friends perform in their newly formed band during the summer of 1980, I knew that this was something for me. Problem was, that I didn't own an instrument, and even if I did, I couldn't play a note. I asked my parents for a guitar, which I got from the Fingerhut catalog (and still own today) for my 16th birthday, and the rest as they say, was history. After pretty much teaching myself how to play, with the aid of a "how to" book, I began taking lessons with local guitar vrirtuoso Gus DeGazio, and joined my friends in their band "Magic" in July of 1981. That began a string of playing continuously with at least 1 band, that continues to this day, some 28+ years later, and its been quite a ride. At the same time as I was learning how to play and more importantly how to become a performer, while playing with Magic, I started hanging out with high school friend Dave Bergamini, who was also an aspiring musician, playing with his own group. Dave and I first played together at a party that was held by our high school graduating class, Blessed Sacrament HS class of 1982. As we tore through classics by the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Chuck Berry, and many others, a musical relationship of 2 kindred spirits was formed. As we went from B.S.H.S. to Iona College, Dave and I formed our first band together, called "Radiation", which was named by opening a dictionary, and randomly pointing at a word. From there it was on to Eye to Eye in the late 80's and early 90's, where we played our own original music, in many of the well known venues in the tri state area, really sharpening our skills and forging a musical tour de force that is as formidable today as it was then. Passion dripped from every note and beat, and to this day, its what separates us from anyone else out there. Magic wrapped up in the mid 90's after a 15+ year run, and around that same time, Dave and I reformed after Eye to Eye fizzled out, and Third Stone was born, with an eye towards playing the blues. We actually started out as a hard core blues band, playing as a trio, with former Magic guitarist, Bruce Monaghan on bass, in 1994-5. We were quickly joined by Vic Minei and Mike Capute on horns, and the Third Stone sound that people have come to know and love was born.
In my every day "Non-Music" life, I live in New Rochelle, NY, and I am an IT professional, specializing in voice and data networks. I've been married for the last 17 years, and have 2 beautiful children. In fact, you may see my daughter Kelly singing back up with us from time to time.
