How long have you been playing piano?

Well, I'd always been exposed to music, my parents played a lot of Broadway musical albums; my sister, Barb has been singing and my other sister, Vicki has been dancing for as long as I can remember. From the time I was 11 we had a piano in the house and I doodled with it on occasion. In my teens, I played a little guitar, but then around the time I was 23 I decided I wanted to learn how to play the piano. I had originally trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City for acting but decided I wanted to acquire other skills related to the entertainment business. A  friend of mine worked at Cal Tech in Pasadena California and told me about the rehearsal rooms they had and suggested I just act like one of the students and sneak in.  That's when I started teaching myself to play.

So, you  originally started out in the theatre?   

Yes, I've done a lot of theatre and musical theatre. I've worked the Rep Theatres, Dinner Theatres and I've done some Movies and Television. I got to work with Chevy Chase and Dan Akryod once (among others) - that was really cool. I wrote a rock musical called "Jack of All Trades" that was produced in Hollywood, California and won a bunch of awards. I've also had some great reviews in the L.A. Times and papers like that. For a brief look at my theatrical career check out my theatrical resume. All the while I was doing theatre I was continuing with music and eventually started getting gigs doing that.

Who inspired you?

For acting, I was inspired by James Dean and Marlon Brando. For music, I’m inspired by Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Elton John and others depending on what we're talking about.

 Are you from a musically talented family?

Interestingly enough, both of my sisters work in the business but neither of my parents were directly involved with the entertainment industry in any way whatsoever.

Who are your musical influences?

Frank Sinatra is my biggest musical influence for this reason: I think the public knows more about the gossipy side of the Frank Sinatra story but he truly was the consummate musician. He worked extremely hard being the best singer he could possibly be. The way he and his associates approached the music with attention to great detail i.e., the arrangements, tempos, keys, etc. was remarkable. They would work the material until it was the best it could be (sometimes for as long as six months while on the road doing shows).  Not a lot of people know this but in the early days Frank Sinatra  used to carry his own little PA around so he could sing at the drop of a hat. At least that’s the information I’ve gathered after reading a book called “The Song is You”.  I also happen to believe that he picked really great songs by songwriters like Cole Porter, Gershwin, Sammy Cahn and Jimmy van Heusen.  In addition to Sinatra I like all the piano men – Billy Joel, Elton John, etc. I’m especially fond of a piano player named Keith Jarrett.

Do you play any other instruments?

Yes. I play guitar. When I do the dueling piano gigs I sometimes play drums and bass (although I’m not really that proficient at either). I wish I played a horn because I really like all the brass instruments, especially trombone.

 I understand one of your songs was offered to a well known rock star. What is the story there?

I recently recorded an all original CD for the first time in my life. As a result of that, I acquired a publisher for my material in Miami, FL. In addition to trying to acquire other record deals for me, they also try to get national artists to cover (record and release) the music that I have written. From what I understand, the publishers have been able to meet with Crescent Moon Productions (Gloria and Emilio Estefan) as well has having pitched one of my songs to Rod Stewart.

What is your favorite kind of music?

My favorite music is the music of Frank Sinatra; the “Big Band” era and especially jump swing. I study Sinatra’s process and his arrangers as well. Arrangers like Neal Hefti, Billy May, Don Costa (whose daughter Nikki is very popular right now.) So, it’s big band, swing and jump swing for me. I also like rockabilly with a lot of horns. Also, I’m very into piano-based rock and roll.

Do you have a favorite type of venue in general that you enjoy playing?

I really like the dueling piano venue although it is extremely difficult. Rock piano on grand pianos can be very hard on the hands and voice. But it’s such a blast! It incorporates a lot of comedy and it’s fun to banter with the audience. I also like casinos for some reason. I wrote a rock musical that takes place in a casino that was produced in Los Angeles. Quite honestly I always feel a little more at home when we’re performing in an actual theatre or performing arts center. 

 In 1992 you were nearly electrocuted. Tell us what happened.

It was a freak accident. I fell into some liquid that had a frayed electrical wire in it. The minute I landed in the liquid, the current grabbed my arm and then went through the underside of my hand, up my forearm and  through my upper arm. It released out of the right side of my forehead. I was stuck fast by the current. I couldn’t scream, couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything.

Continuing….

I was working at a Bat mitzvah. Lucky for me there was a preacher (moonlighting as a bartender of all things) who finally risked his own life by tackling me off the electricity. He wasn’t injured as badly as I was but he ended up in the hospital as well.

What kind of injuries did you sustain?

The electricity burned my hand and forearm really bad. It also shot into my right inner ear, hitting my eardrum. Fortunately for me it didn’t break the eardrum. My scalp also got burned where the electricity apparently released...

How long did it take you to heal?

It took about three or four months for all new “baby skin” to grow back in. It took several more months for it to become supple enough for me to use my hand again. I had to retrain myself how to play the piano. My inner ear finally healed. I had a 50% hearing loss but I finally regained about 98% of the hearing in my right ear. Anyway, I went back to work as an entertainer after about seven months of recuperating.

Continuing...

Unfortunately for me the woman who owned the company I was working for when I was hurt did not have worker's comp. She had written me a letter saying that she would pay the doctor bills and reimburse me for damages but she did absolutely nothing in good faith to try to rectify the situation. Consequently, my credit reports all went to hell, etc. Ultimately I had to settle the matter in court.

How do believe this has affected your life....?

Well, it certainly makes you appreciate being alive. Not that I wasn't before, but it gives you a different perspective in every way possible. There are other things that I believe may have occurred as a result of that experience but, as yet, I have not found the right words to convey what I believe I learned - I promise you, as soon I figure it out...I'll let everyone know....

...To Be Continued