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With me, it all started while listening to AM radio stations, two of the larger in the Chicago area back then being WLS and WCFL, and having daydreams of girls, fast cars, and being in a rock and roll band.

When I was around 11 years old someone showed up at our front door offering a free accordion with the purchase of lessons. My mom was more than happy to pay for lessons so this was my first step to becoming a rock star. Around 13 or so I realized I never saw girls go crazy over a guy playing the accordion, but guys with guitars were another story. While listening to the radio and records my attention was drawn to how the bass worked together with the drums, and thinking that 4 strings might be quicker to learn than 6, I bought a Silvertone bass guitar from Sears, which I still have. Free lessons weren't included so I picked up a few beginner books and spent a lot of time playing along with records, and ElRey Music on Irving Park Rd. in Chicago became one of my favorite hangouts. After a few years of honing my skills on the bass I began to wonder what it would be like to play in a band with others which led to putting up a sign at ElRey ("Bass player looking for band").  The Other Half seemed like a good fit, so I slid in for 11 years or so.  This was the only band I was ever in. 

By that time I was an auto body tech and eventually started a custom car and drag racing club with some friends called "Drag Masters" hanging out at places like Skips Drive In on North Ave. The cars were hot and the carhops on rollers skate were quite memorable too! I was also a partner on a racing team with a modified '69 Nova we raced up in Union Grove, Wisconsin and had my own body shop for about 5 years by the name of "Done Rite". This eventually led to my leaving the Chicago area when someone from my church opened a body shop in Columbus, Ohio called Fleet Auto Craft, which later became affiliated with Car Star. This was about the time the Eko bass got put away.

A large part of returning to the Chicago area in the late 1990's was to help my bother take care of our parents. I left the auto body trade to work with my brother who has a wicker furniture restoration shop.

Favorite artists/bands:

Styx - Santana - Buckinghams - Zombies - Ventures - New Colony Six - Paul Revere & The Raiders - Animals - Beau Brummels - Buddy Holly - Bill Haley & The Comets - The DC 5 - Jethro Tull - ELO - BTO - CCR - Four Tops - Blondie - Toto 

Some favorite songs from The Other Half Days: 

Good Loving - I Feel Good - Boogaloo Down Broadway - Proud Mary - Long Train Running - My Girl - That's The Way I Like It (Uh Huh, Uh Huh)
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