BIO
Vital Stats
age 48; born in Princeton New Jersey; resident of the Monadnock region of NH. A little town called Nelson, population currently 680, according to our librarian.
My job is music. I teach guitar, and I perform with several bands – mostly in the eastern US. I got my first guitar around age ten, mom bought it for me with green stamps at the A & P.
I hightailed it out of NJ before college, on the premise I was building a photo portfolio for art school. I crossed the States with my friend Holly Light, in her powder blue VW convertible. I was going to be a photographer. Like the great Edward Weston on the coast of California. Then my camera and film were stolen in Guatemala City.
So I went to Kodiak Island with Paul Dungan, and worked on fishing boats for the next three years. Saw amazing things. Whales, bears, pink cranes, lots of salmon and crab. Got really strong, learned about engines, fixing salmon seines, mending crab pots, how much old bait stinks, and how to say no to men. Bought a red Harley. Strapped a beat up guitar to the back and went to my first music festival, in Talkeetna, up by Denali Park. Rode my bike through some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen, the Kenai Peninsula. It was then I bought a mandolin, joined my first bluegrass band. Heard old timey music. Realized I was a good singer. Then I broke my wrist.
So I sold the bike, moved to Port Townsend out on the Olympic Peninsula and went to boatbuilding school. Found a great shop to work in, great people to live and work with and had my best dog ever, Tyla, who slept in the shavings. I learned about taking time to make great things. And I was happy for many years. Then I went to the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes…