Playing the Drums

• MacArthur
  After one year of band at North East Jr. High I joined that MacArthur HS Band, John Pearson, Director, who probably had as much to do with me becoming a professional musician as anybody. In addition, I joined the San Antonio Youth Symphony Orchestra, Richard Cole - Conductor, G. Lewis Doll - organizer
• Robert E. Lee
  Where I graduated from HS... 3 years of band, stage band - Cal Schultz, Director... I continued with the San Antonio Youth Symphony and was in the TMEA All-State Orchestra for three years.
• Keith Allison
  First Rock-n-Roll band... contest winners
• Doug Sahm
  Rehearsed at his house, played on top of Drive in Theater snack bars
• Gretsch Progressive Jazz Set -- Burgandy Sparkle
  my first pro-quality set of drums
• NTSU I
  Off to conquer NTSU... made a little headway - 6 o'clock band 2nd semester, lots of great drummer peers there and Tommy Gwin, teacher
• St. Mary's University
  Came back to San Antonio and went to St. Mary's, ROTC, taught at Music Mart and Peacock, pontiac convertible
• Rogers Dbl Kick Set -- Mardi Gras Sparkle
  Went to TBA convention, saw the Rogers drums and just had to get a set... where are they now???
• Johnnie "Scat" Davis Show (1964-1965)
  First professional road gig, Showboat in Vegas, Cabana in Dallas, Al Hirt's in New Orleans, and a trip to Tokyo
• The NORAD Band North American Defense Command Band (1966-1968) Stationed in Colorado Springs... Concerts at Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, all through Canada, and even Guatamala
• The Studio Band of the U.S. Army Field Band (1968-1971)
  Organized and commanded by CWO Charlie Almeida, this was one amazing band! Musicians from LA, NY and NTSU. Concerts at schools, colleges, and community auditoriums
• NTSU One O'Clock Band
  Got out of the Army and returned to NTSU for the purpose of playing in the One O'Clock Band - I was successful.
• Lainie Kazan (1973)
  Tom Bruner, a friend in LA. heard that Lainie was looking for a drummer - I got the gig and toured with her for 6 crazy months including a trip to Australia.
• Mark Franklin Trio (1972-1973)
  Returned to Dallas and joined the Mark Franklin Trio (audio) with bass players Kirby Stewart and Lou Fischer
• Doc Severinsen (1973-1975)
  Doc often used a Dallas rhythm on the road, bass player Ernie Chapman championed my cause to Doc and I started doing the pops-orchestra appearances that Ed Shaughnessy couldn't. This relationship lasted for several years.
• Chicago (1974-1975)
  I thought I had exhausted the opportunities in Dallas, and moved to Chicago at the suggestion of Jerry Liliedahl, NORAD buddy. I went to work for "Jingle King" Dick Marx, at the Palmer House, and Hyatt's Blue Max where I played for Lola Falana.
• Lola Falana
  Lola Called and offered me a job. She was putting together a new night club act. It was fun and there were issues... so
• Los Angeles
  I left Lola and stayed in Los Angeles when coreographer Lester Wilson offered me the job to play dance rehearsals on Van Dyke & Co. Variety TV show... within 2 weeks drummer John Guerin, who was doing the pre-record session, quit and I got to do the recording, too
• Sonny and Cher (1976-1977)
  Two weeks later, Red Mandell, who was subbing for contractor Al Lapin, asked me if I wanted to do the Sonny and Cher show on a week by week basis. I said yes, and finished the season. Within 3/4 weeks of moving to LA I had TWO network TV shows!!!
• Burt Bacharach
  Mark Stevens, whom I met when he came to Merriweather Post Pavillion, called and said he had recommended me to Burt Bacharach... 12 LPs and 100's pages of studied drum parts later, I started with Burt on a concert with the Houston Symphony... the last engagement was a three week tour of South America... every gig was like a record date!!!
• Tony Orlando
  When the variety TV work disappeared Bob Rozario called and offered me the job touring with Tony Orlando, a gig that lasted almost three years. Buck Clarke - percussionist, Bob Bohinc - guitar, Jose marino - bass... Rosie left after a while to do the Osmonds TV show and Reg Powell came on board as conductor...
• Diff'rent Strokes and other "Variety" Television
  Reg Powell and Tony's rhythm section was contracted by Alan Thicke to do the theme for a new TV show, "Diff'rent Strokes"... it took 45 minutes... the show was a hit and we made lot$ of $$$$!
• Engelbert Humperdinck
  Tony took some time off to do a TV movie and I was hired by Jeff Sturges for the Englebert gig - lasted several months including a tour of Canada
• Paul Anka
  Loved the other musicians and singers...
• Rita Moreno
  Rita often opened for Tony at the Riviera in Vegas, when she did I played her, too... AND I played for her when she opened for Sammy Davis Jr. at Harrah's Lake Tahoe.
• The Nobuko Trio San Antonio, TX -- 1982-1983
  I got tired of the road (turned out to be a fleeting feeling) and moved back to San Antonio. I Joined the Nobuko Trio, Nokuko Utterbach, piano, Bob Schulman, bass... later Jim kalson joined the trio on bass. Had a great time playing, especially this concert
• Broadway Shows
  Moved back to Los Angeles, adid a Pontiac Fiero Introduction tour with Nick Perito, worked on a Love Boat TV movie, and be came Mark Steven's sub on the Broadway Show "Woman of the Year" at the Dorothy Chandler... the result of which was I met John Monaco, the NY contractor.
• La Cage Aux Folles
  John Monaco hired me to do the West Coast First National production of "La Cage aux Folles", opening in San Francisco and then in Los Angeles. Larry Blank was the conductor and both orchestras were incredible.
• A Chorus Line
  When La Cage closed I took a 6 month National Tour of "A Chorus Line", Tom Hancock, conducting, Greg D'Lugos, assisting/piano, and many of the original NY Broadway cast including Nicholas Dante and Donna McKechnie.
• Zorba the Greek with Anthony Quinn
  Went right into the National Tour of Zorba the Greek, which involved the purchase of timps, mallets, and a variety of other percussion instruments
• Cabaret with Joel Grey
  Endured a few months off when Zorba ended and then went on road with "Cabaret"... this was fun... lots of great cast and crew members (many from Zorba), including the "Kit Kat Klub" band with Barbara Merjan playing drums.
• Fiddler on the Roof with Topol
  Joined "Fiddler on the Roof" tour in Costa Mesa, CA, took over for drummer/percussionist John "Spoons" Spooner, Kevin Farrell, conducting. Eventually Irv Greene, who was the original Broadway conductor rejoined the show on its way back to NY and Broadway, preceded by a month in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan