I have been blessed over the course of my life to perform with some of the greatest musicians in the world. I learned more about music from playing with these folks than I ever did in a classroom. But I never would have pursued a career as a performer if I had not had some of the greatest teachers in the world, too. I studied with:

• David Caffey (trombone, composition & arranging)
• Frank Mantooth (arranging)
• Buddy Baker (trombone)
• Jeff Uusitalo (trombone)
• Frank Rosolino (trombone)
• David Diamond (composition)

Naturally, I had other teachers, but these were true influences on my life and music.

Jazz

Pop & Rock

Ray Charles
Cab Calloway
Billy Eckstine
Joe Williams
George Shearing
Randy Brecker
Chuck Mangione
Clark Terry
Bobby Shew
Carl Fontana
James Moody
Branford Marsalis
Frank Wess
Frank Strazzeri
Chuck Mangione

Mel Torme'
Stanley Turrentine
Arturo Sandoval
Giovanni Hidalgo
Francisco Aguabella
Woody Herman
Louie Bellson
Frank Mantooth
Dianne Schuur
Armando Peraza
Chris Woods
Plas Johnson
Jack Sheldon
Jon Faddis
David Benoit

Jimmy Buffet
The Temptations
John Denver
Burt Bacharach
Dionne Warwick
Lou Rawls
The Four Tops
Kenny Rankin
Michael Feinstein
Marvin Hamlisch
Johnny Otis
Mary Wilson
Philip Bailey
Papa John Creach
Dinah Shore

Glen Campbell
Tanya Tucker
Charlie Pride
Bob Hope
Debbie Reynolds
Rosemary Clooney
Andy Williams
Lainie Kazan
Connie Stevens
Eddie Fischer
Buddy Greco
The Platters
The Mills Brothers
Helen O'Connell 
Hank Ballard

Other

John Stewart (the guy who wrote "Daydream Believer", and the most negative person I've ever met) | The Denver Symphony (I played with them several times, and loved it) | Mary Wells | Keely Smith (gave me a Keely Smith ashtray as a memento) | Billy Daniels | Hal Linden | Johnny Ray (the most bizarre act on earth, and an oregon native!) | John Gary (also a very strange act) | The Diamonds | The Four Aces | The Modernaires | The Four Freshmen (nice guys, and the inspiration for the Beach Boys' vocal harmonies)