MEET THE BAND
I have a very early memory of riding with my dad to see Santa Claus - he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. For a moment I panicked as I had not yet given it any thought. So, not wanting to look indecisive I blurted out, "A guitar". That was of course, more years ago than I care to count, but the guitar has been my constant companion ever since. Like so many guitar players from my generation, I felt 'lightning struck' by seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. They were a little older than me, they had long hair, guitars and they played their own music - they were unbelievably cool (the screaming girls didn't hurt either). I fooled around with the guitar for a few years following that experience, but became serious about guitar and singing in my mid-20s. Living through both the ‘British Invasion' and the hippy years, my musical interest followed two primary paths, electric blues and acoustic folk, along with a little Rock & Motown. Over the years I've played in multiple bands in pursuit of those genres. I also served for several years on the Victory Music Board. I was honored to be nominated for "Best Male Vocalist" by Washington Blues Society in 2013. My vocal style has been compared to Tom Waits, though in my head I sound more like Lou Rawls. My guitar influences are too many to name, but a couple of my main influences are, Freddie King and Ronnie Earl. Since retiring from a career in software development, playing music is what I love and much of what I do. I have every intention of playing and singing until I'm done!
I started playing ukulele when I was six years old. My mother furnished me with Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, and Everly Brothers records. I took up drums in the 4th grade and guitar in the 7th. In 1966 I joined a band called The Jax as guitarist/vocalist. I left that band and formed The Soul Merchants in late 1966 and played high school dances, fraternities, etc. In 1969 I switched from guitar to bass and formed a Rock-n-Roll band called Taurus. We played at various bars in Seattle between First and Eighth Avenue. In 1973 I quit my day job at Seattle Music Company and founded American Music. In order to support myself in my new venture, I worked five to six nights a week for four years, with a band called Sundance. From 1982 until 1984 I played bass for the The Hardly Everly Brothers. Later that year I joined The Dick Powell Band, a very successful blues band with Rich Dangel on guitar and Denny Goodhew on sax. We had the pleasure of opening for B.B. King on many occasions. In 1991 I took the position of Musical Director at ITT Sheraton Asia Pacific in Hong Kong for which I formed a band with Ron Ussery (AKA Sweet Talking Jones), Overton Barry, Richard Stockton and Scott Powell. I remained in Hong Kong until 1995. Back in Seattle, In 2002 I formed a band featuring my friend's harmonica playing daughter, Stacy Jones, that became The Stacy Jones Band. About a year later, I left the group and her father, Tom Jones, took over on bass. On a Blues Cruise in 2012 I met Bruce Ransom. We formed Blues on Tap with Steve Peterson and Jim Plano. We disbanded in early 2017. In 2018 I got together with Steve Bailey to re-form Stevie and the Blue Flames which disbanded due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I really enjoy playing with Flight Risk. It's great to be in a band with four excellent singers, not to mention nice guys and great players
I got my first guitar when I was in 5th grade. I can still remember the magic feeling of holding that instrument in my hands! Wasting no time, I immediately acquired a Beatles book containing the lyrics and chords to the early Beatles' songs and learned the chords and words to, “Please, Please, Me”. I was playing and singing that song the very same day. While I had no idea what the song was about, that didn't matter – my dream of being musician had officially launched! In 8th grade I got my first electric guitar and amplifier and joined an existing local band called The Majestics. With the help of the other guitar player's mom who took the role of managing the band, we were soon playing gigs at military bases, schools, colleges and private parties. While I loved and played the music of the 70's, 80's and 90's, the music I've always felt the greatest connection to is the music of the 60's. As a member of various configurations of cover bands playing rock, blues and funk, I toured the North Western United States and Western Canada. Along the way, I was fortunate to hit the big stage on a number of occasions as guitarist/singer in the opening act for major recording groups including REO Speedwagon, Rare Earth, Styx and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show. Flight Risk gives me the opportunity to perform a variety of fun music from Classic Rock to to Motown to Blues and even Country – and the pleasure of performing and professionallly associating with 3 great guys and excellent musicians…what more could an old guitar player ask for?
My first set of drums weren't even drums, they were oatmeal boxes! Nevertheless, those boxes got me started on my lifelong passion for drums and percussion instruments. It wasn't long after I started playing that I joined a drum and bugle corps with my brother which was great experience – but then I heard the Beatles! Seeing the Beatles playing and singing their own music, and being loved and admired was truly an epiphany for me and changed my life! At that point I diligently pursued getting my own set of professional drums and was soon on the path that lead to playing with variousw cover bands ranging from 60's Psychedelic, to Pop, Blues, Funk, and even swing bands, but I never lost my affinity for the music that inspired it all, the music of the 60's. Flight Risk has made it possible for me to take my love of music full circle and once again perform some of the great 60's music that first inspired me years ago along with some Motown, Blues and Country. One of my favorite 60's groups was the original Yardbirds, who are still among the most influential rock groups of all time. One of the true high points of my music career was the honor and privilege of playing drums in the opening act for that very group – that was an experience I'll never forget!
