I’ve lived in Laurel Canyon for just a short time, but some of my greatest influences from Joni Mitchell to Neil Young and Carole King all spent time here. I love the organic nature of the music that originated from this community above Hollywood. Though my time here has been short, growing up in southern California and living everywhere in LA for years, I’ve met quite a few of the key players in my day. (The picture here of me with Graham Nash and David Crosby is from a charity event I played. Nash had just given me the thumbs up that night as I was playing a song which had a lick ripped from Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.” So in a way I had the spirit of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with me that night.)
My complete influences as a songwriter and guitarist are quite varied. I love Brazilian music and jazz. Learning about Woody Guthrie in elementary school led me to writing songs. Bob Dylan and the 60’s trinity of British rock bands shaped me. Punk rock and folky DIY artists inspired me to make this my living. Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye feed my soul.