My first working band was 1979's Section Eight, playing small nightclubs and private parties. Since then, I've worked with many local Colorado acts in both performance and recording. A deliberative songwriter as well as live frontman, I have been honored to receive Honorable Mentions in both the Colorado Composer's Classic and the Billboard Song Contest. Semi-retired in 1998 to complete a degree in English from Regis University, I now teach middle school English and science at Jefferson Academy Charter School in Broomfield, Co. I am excited to return to music performance with Ironwood Rain.

Experience
Recording credits include vocal/bass tracks with various local artists including blues guitarist Forrest Nuerberg, Tracy Quinn (Magician) and Joe January (Dotsero, Radio Flyer).

Performance acts (nightclubs and small concert venues including Ogden Theater, Gothic Theater, Boulder Theater) include Section Eight, Stiffwater, Mr. E, RiffRats, Radio Flyer w/ Patrick Moraz (Yes, Moody Blues) and Hated Betty.
Genres include classic rock, original progressive rock, alternative, metal, fusion, and singer/songwriter.

40 years experience studying and performing live music.

Born on a dark and stormy night. There must have been music playing somewhere. The rest is history.

Speaking of history-
At the age of 8, began studying formal theory and classical technique with local instructor Ron Herdt.

Played in blues, jazz, marching band, orchestra, Dixieland, and big band orchestras from the age of 10 to 18. Traveled extensively throughout Colorado, with trips to California and Washington DC, including performances at Disneyland at 13 and in the Presidential Inaugural Parade at the age of 17.

At the age of 13, co-founded the rock/blues cover band Sidewinder, which became the all-original rock band Stiffwater. Played a massive variety of parties, dances, clubs, concerts, and other performances over a period of 20+ years.

7+ years of classical and jazz theory/harmony training with jazz master Bill Alexander.
3+ years jazz/theory/harmony training with local jazz legend Dale Bruning, who played with such jazz greats as Dizzie Gillespie.

So there I was…

I don’t remember al l the details but I know I was minding my own business.
My interest in music started at a very young age.  I was fascinated by any musical instrument I saw.  I could spend hours picking out melodies with any I could get my hands on.  (Actually, I am still this way.)  For my fifteenth birthday I asked for and received my first guitar.  Neither my parents nor I had any knowledge of guitars or a very large guitar budget.  We went to a seedy pawn shop and found a cheap copy of a Gibson Les Paul.   It turned out to be a terrible guitar that could not be persuaded to stay in tune.  I ended up borrowing a nylon string acoustic from one of my uncles.  I have been playing acoustic guitar almost exclusively ever since. 

Through the years I have played scores of solo performances and with the bands:  “A-Towne” & “Left on Colfax” .  Although guitar is my main instrument, I can easily be swayed to jam on harmonica, piano, bass, mandolin or in a pinch, the kitchen sink! 
Some of my other interests include helping my 3 kids develop their musical abilities, gardening, Tae Kwon Do, camping, brewing beer, Dragon Boat racing, boating, fishing, the Denver Broncos, carpentry, word and number puzzles, sushi, reading, motorcycles, drawing, concerts, watching the History Channel, cooking, Kinetics, and other assorted unexpected adventures.
I am so grateful to be performing with three extremely talented musicians.  The songs are fun, the chemistry fantastic and the music amazing.  I look forward to sharing this and many great times with you all.

Thank you for your continued support.

Peace,
JJ

At the age of seven I found a collection of rock and roll records in the attic and instantly became a permanent student in the “School of Rock” Shortly after my attic foray, my family took me to my first rock concert: the King himself, Elvis Presley! But in 1978,  when I saw the rockumentary “The Kids are Alright”, featuring the explosive antics of the Who's Keith Moon, that I knew drums were to be my instrument. Much to my surprise, my Mom was thrilled when I told her of my musical desires. It turns out that her father, had been a drummer during the Big Band era.

So, in 1980 I purchased my first drum kit (which I still play to this day) and after taking lessons for a couple of years from Ron Hurst – who had been performing with Steppenwolf since 1982 – I decided to take the path of road scholar and continued my schooling by listening, looking, practicing and learning . . . the road of self-teaching/actualization.

From the 80’s to the early 1990’s I performed with a number of cover and original acts in Massachusetts. Along the way, I was influenced and enthralled by the works of such percussion greats as John Bonham, Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland. I closed out the 90’s by taking a break from the music industry (thanks to Neil Young) to explore acoustic guitar, piano, and harmonica. The drum kit was packed away carefully, lovingly, and quietly.

In 2001, I left the east coast and settled in Colorado - settled being a bit of a misnomer – and found myself spending much time motorcycling through the Rockies and beyond, indulging in a new found love of nature photography. The drums were silent but present, waiting patiently.

2006 heralded a re-connection with my inner drummer; a nearby church needed a drummer for the rock music they featured in their services. This was a genre with which I was totally unfamiliar (my last public performance as a drummer being some 13 years prior in Boston performing at a transvestite club), but I figured – what the heck. Someone or something was calling me back to the drums, so I auditioned for the spot. Providence spoke afterward, as a series of related endeavors led me to eventually Ironwood Rain. All of these events were truly incredible blessings – God works in mysterious ways.

I would like to thank Scotte, Mikey, and JJ for bringing me into the Ironwood Rain family as their percussion backbone. I am truly blessed to be able to share my God-given gift of music with such incredible talent. Please allow us to share out gifts with you . . . I feel that my joining Ironwood Rain has completed the balance of four elements as I add the Fire (come to a show – you’ll see what I mean!). Now, with God’s will and your support, Ironwood Rain the foundation is set.

The Keys to Life: Constant Gratitude and Forgiveness, An Open Mind . . . An Open Heart
– Love, Gary