
My first concert was in Grade 7 student in the gym of Garneau Jr. High. I played Bumble Boogie and an improvisation on Dave Brubeck’s “Take 5” with my hands shaking and sweating so badly water dripped off the keys. Two years later I bought an organ at the Bay for $50 with money I had earned delivering papers. I started a rock band singing covers of Top 40 songs like Midnight Hour and LIght My Fire. Our PA was a 50 watt amp driving a big dented bull horn with a 20 pound magnet that had been retired from a local hockey rink. We could make ears bleed.
Strathcona Composite High School had a few other garage bands that merged together in Grade 12 to form Manna. We played all original songs and worked out five part harmonies. On graduation in 1970 we joined a North American concert tour with local orchestras featuring songs from Jesus Christ Superstar and two of our songs. . Our style was blues influenced folk rock heavily influenced by Joni Mitchell and The Band. We were famous in Edmonton, but I quit after a year to become a Biochemist. This did not last long.

I now live in Victoria B.C. where I continue to record and perform my songs.







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