I was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, and started playing guitar at five years old. My first teacher was my father — an accomplished guitarist and accordion player from Ferentino, Italy — and music has been part of my life ever since. By seven, I was taking formal lessons and went on to study classical guitar for more than eleven years.
By my late teens, I was teaching private lessons during the week and performing live around Chicago and the Midwest on weekends. That early balance of learning, teaching, and playing live shaped the way I approach music to this day.
Over the years, I’ve worked as a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer across a wide range of styles, from country and blues to jazz and progressive rock. I also play mandolin, banjo, and keyboards, and write, perform, and produce music for film and commercial projects out of my professional recording studio in Grandville, Michigan.
I relocated to Grand Rapids in 1996 and currently serve as lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Verve Pipe, while continuing to pursue solo work, studio projects, and collaborations.
At the core of everything I do is a simple goal: to keep growing, stay curious, and make music that connects.
I’m proud to be an official sponsored artist for D’Addario, 64 Audio, Marshall Amplification, JHS Pedals, Strymon Engineering, Seymour Duncan Pickups, PedalSnake Cables, and Gator Cases.
www.loujmusa.com
