Pat got his first piano at age 7 and his first guitar at age 11. About that same time, the music of the 60's was erupting, providing him with a limitless supply of songs to learn. He wasted no time picking up as many as possible, and in 1965 he joined three other lads from the Savannah area, forming the first band he ever played in, "The Gents", featuring Bill Timberlake, Charlie Masterson, and the famous Bucky Jones on Bass. The Gents became a very popular local band, with bookings every weekend. For a 15 year old at that time, there was no greater job than to be in a band., and this band was great !
Moving to Jacksonville at the age of 17, then going to college at Valdosta State University, he temporarily put music on hold to further his education. One day while hitchhiking home from college, four black men stopped him on a downtown street in Jacksonville. Seeing his guitar case, they asked him, "Hey, man, can you play? 'Cause we're looking for a lead guitarist..."
That band toured all over northeast Florida, playing several nights a week, and giving Pat a taste of REAL funk and soul music, something that also helped shape his playing styles.
He continued to perform with bands like Shortbread Junction, Circus, and great musicians like Kenny Phillips (drums), Butch Malone (Guitar), Tom Taegel (Bass), Bob Lies (Guitar), and many others.
He wrote songs for "Lie, Cheat and Steal", featuring Willie Gene Cost, Clay Gentry and Gary Lane.
A brief stint with a travelling country band took him on a USO tour to perform for our troops in places like Guantanamo, Cuba.
He has shared stages with The Commodores, Orleans, Pat Travers, Mickey Thomas and Jefferson Starship Band, Mike Reno and Loverboy, Charlie Daniels, Rick Arcusa Band, Billy Bowers, The RetroKats, Davis and Pam Turner, Ralph (Dr. SAX) Thomas, Fran Coraggio, Billy Aldrich (Van Dells), Kenny Levine, and others.
His most recent band, "Mid-Life Crisis" featuring Dave Pratt on guitar, Grover Rann on bass, Ed Fogg on the best sax around, and keys, and Jim McClure on drums. They were together an amazing 26 years, performing all over northeast Florida.
He recently retired from that great group saying, "After all these wonderful years, it's finally time to move on." The deep friendship of the members of that band and their families will always remain.
Pat now performs as a solo guitarist/keyboardist/singer, and also records and produces in his home studio.
