About me: Originally from Phila, Pa. Mom and Dad were in show business during the vaudeville days. Things were tough because of WWII.

Anyhow I have been singing as long as I can remember. Church, glee club { I got to sit with the girls, thank you lord for a high voice } Also talent shows in school and Tony Grants Stars of Tomorrow in the summer on Steel Pier in Atlantic City.

As I got older I started singing Doo Wop with my friends on the corner. I lived in a mixed neighborhood so we had black guys and white guys out there singing harmony all night long. I had grown up listening to R&B and early Ray Charles and a bunch of other groups.

When Elvis hit the radio I was inspired to learn to play guitar. My first guitar was a $22.00 Stella with strings a half inch high.I didn’t know any better at the time so I just let my fingers bleed until the callus formed. I was writing some songs and got to record on Jamie Records in Phila but I got screwed like everyone else.

I moved to New York City and got in with Joey Dee and the Starliters of Peppermint Twist fame. Some of the guys in the band were Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish and Eddie Brogotti who went on to be the Rascals. I was doing some studio vocal and guitar work for four or five producers. I had the good fortune to sing background on a couple of Jay and the Americans hits.

I should have stayed in NY longer but I went back to Phila to put a show band together. I did and traveled all over the country. Played Las Vegas at the Flamingo, Dunes and Sams Town. I recorded some during that time and had a couple of regional hits which was enough to keep the good money coming.