I was born and raised with my parents and three sisters in Melbourne (Sunshine). As a kid I was surrounded by music as my dad was a trombonist in the local brass band as well as being a member of various traditional jazz bands. In my room was an old 78rpm record player as well as boxes of old 78's. With all this music my fate was sealed.

About the time I was eight I played tenor horn and cornet for a short while in the Sunshine City Brass Band, but the idea of having to read music didn't grab me.

At the age of ten I took up the drums which lasted for ten years. During this time I got into listening to Rock, metal, and classical music. I started playing with bands from the age of sixteen but when I reached twenty I'd had enough of lugging drums and hardware and had the urge to play a melodic instrument.

All of my heroes were trumpet players so I purchased a cheap trumpet and joined the brass band, where I was tutored by Eddie Jenkins who played 1st cornet (beautifully).
Two years later I was accepted into the 3rd military district army band where in the next three years I learnt a truckload from practical experience with the band, lessons with Peter Salt (Melbourne session musician), and guidance from another army trumpeter; Jeff Poole.
Around this time I was introduced to the music of Miles, Clifford, Freddie, Diz, Maynard, Parker, Coltrane, Garrett etc. Yes siree!! After my three year army stint I was accepted into the Jazz course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

I loved Sydney from two previous visits as a kid, but now being there with such great players as Bob Barnard, Keith Stirling, James Morrison (my tutor), Warwick Alder etc was marvelous.

Since completing the Jazz course I have been building up my livelihood by playing all styles of music in many different bands and situations. Life is good.