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Born in South Wales in 1972, I was exposed to The Beatles by my Dad and Bach by my Mum. I started playing piano aged 7, but found the exams a drag. Lost my soul to music until I discovered the guitar at age 11. Much more fun! I trawled through my Dad's collection of Beatles, T. Rex, Incredible String Band and Bert Jansch albums, trying to learn as much as I could. I moved over to the bass guitar aged 13, and a year later joined the local big band. I started writing my first songs around the age of 14. I would try and sneak a few into school lunchtime gigs. Around this time I was also juggling schoolwork with gigs in a local soul band "Sounds Around" and modern jazz group, "Bebop Disposal". Probably why I failed my A Levels!! I moved to Manchester in 1991 to study music. On leaving college I spent a couple of years playing in holiday camps and aboard cruise ships. This provided a modicum of financial stability, but instilled musical stagnation! I decided to start suffering for my art, and moved back to Manchester in 1996. Became a freelance bassist, playing all kinds of music - jazz, blues, soul, funk, rock.... A highlight was playing with Wynton Marsalis when he visited Matt and Phreds' jazz club in July 2002. I have appeared at Manchester's Jazz Festival, Castlefield's DePercussion festival, and sessioned for Pete Waterman's PWL label. I was almost the voice for Vimto in a recent ad!! As well the instrumental side of things, I have always had a keen interest in songwriting. I have gigged my original tunes on Manchester's showcase circuit since 1998, and had one appear in the soundtrack to the Manchester film "The Van Boys". I toured the UK and Holland in September 2001 with a “Tribute to Motown” show. This involved accompanying visiting singers from Las Vegas. I have taught bass guitar and songwriting on Cheshire County Council’s “Rock and Pop Summer School” at the Conwy Centre, Menai since August 2002. I also teach guitar and bass in a private music school "The Music Place", in Altrincham, Cheshire. I have just landed the post of guitar tutor for Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council. I currently divide my time between gigging, writing, teaching and hanging out with my family.
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