1957-1962
Begins musical career with "The Mixtures", a very successful Southern California band that records and releases several 45's and the live album, "Stomping At The Rainbow" on labels, First President, Linda and Rampart. Among these records is "Darling"with The Mixtures featuring the vocal duo, Phil and Harv that sells over 250,000 copies in 1961. The Mixtures do a very popular, live 26 week TV show, "Parade Of Hits" on KCOP Channel 13 in Hollywood sponsored by KRLA Radio. The show is hosted by TV
personality, Bob Eubanks, (The Newlywed Game) with guests such as Ketty Lester, Jennell Hawkins, Linda Hopkins, April Stevens & Nino Tempo and hitmakers of the period, Frankie Avalon, Roy Orbison, Bobby Darin, Bobby Rydell and Paul Anka, among many others. Also collaborates with guitar great, Jimmy Nolen (Johnny Otis, James Brown) doing blues shows in California and Arizona, that feature blues greats, Nolen, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Floyd Dixon and Pee Wee Crayton.
1963-1966
Enters the United States Army and after basic training, is assigned to the Eighth Army Special Services Division performing in
shows in the Far East while stationed in Inchon, South Korea. Transfers to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama and is
paired with trombonist, Fred Wesley (James Brown, Maceo Parker, etc) and jazz drummer, E.W. Wainwright Jr. (African Roots Of
Jazz, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders). Upon discharge, joins the Ike & Tina Turner Revue for a brief period and then the nucleus of this revue becomes, "Sam & The Goodtimers", house band at the famed California Club in Los Angeles with original Ike Turner sidemen, Sam Rhodes, Ernest Lane, Clifford Solomon, Ray Field, Thomas "Nose" Norwood, singers Jimmy Thomas,
Bobby John and the Ikettes. Leaves and tours for a year opening for comedian Redd Foxx then moves to Atlanta, GA to join "The Jazz Pioneers", a very popular group at Atlanta's jazz clubs. Appears at the first Downbeat Jazz Festival in Atlanta
produced by George Wein.
1967-1971
Guitarist with the very popular R&B band, "Fatback" performing throughout the west coast and doing concerts with Elvin Bishop,
Cold Blood and Tower Of Power in the San Francisco area.
1994-Present
Former advisor to Foundation Of American Roots Music that produces the prestigious "Bowlful Of Blues" annually in Ojai, CA.
Former host of "The Blues Shack" on KCLU FM (National Public Radio). Disbands his "Blues Shack Band", that opens show for
Lowell Fulson, W.C. Clark, Taj Mahal, King Ernest, Big Joe Duskin, Rod Piazza, Ball & Sultan, William Clarke and many more, to
pursue other activities that include; Former shop associate for Tracy Longo's Guitar Tech Corner that specializes in custom repairs and vintage guitars. Writes reviews and feature articles for magazines, including Vintage Guitar Magazine and Windplayer Magazine that specialize in blues and jazz. A blues historian, is completing a book detailing the history of the blues on the west coast from World War Two to the present.