"I am sitting here thinking about the new www.woostersang site and how it one day will be the 'Way of the World'. I smile 'cause it's been one helluva long road and there have been so many times I just wanted to throw the towel in and call it a day. Then I realize I can never do that, because without my dream I am nothing.....without my dream I have no real purpose for being here.......Sure that frightens me, but when there is no alternative and you come to terms with that, the feeling is actually quite liberating. So I guess what I'm saying is that dreams liberate you......and that's why Level 42's quote means so much to me......"
"Music is the key to set me free"
--Random thoughts for no apparant reason.
Growing up in Tokyo was probably not too different from growing up anywhere else in the world. As a kid you don't have too many agendas other than going to school, eating cheeseburgers and just having fun with friends. I suppose though, I was influenced by Japanese artists as a little kid and that certainly is something outside of the norm!
At 11 I began boarding school in England. The place was called Downside Abbey and it came fully equipped with Monks bearing bamboo canes for discipling the students...So no doubt that affected me! Seriously though, I was in England when Bowie, Madness, Blondie, Gary Newman and the Bugles were at their peak.
I have been playing music all of my life and for awhile, my thing was the French Horn. I even got accepted to tour Europe with the Youth of America...a trip that had an incredible impact on me. Once I came to the States, my world was totally changed. I doscovered the Doors, ELP, Alan Parsons and Frank Zappa...well, the rest is history! I bought my first keyboard and have been playing in groups ever since.
I have had the great pleasure of knowing and working with some incredibly inspiring artists and I suppose they have had the greatest impact on my musical development.
All I have ever wanted was to write and perform and I'm still doing it! When you find bandmates that you understand and who understand you, ...man...you end up with something totally unique...I guess that's what makes Wooster Sang so great to play with.
I left the advertising world a year ago to become a fulltime musician and it has changed my life! I make less, but I am happier and more at peace than ever before. I now concentrate on playing in as many situations as possible on both the keyboards and saxaphone, and this is how I make my living....go figure! On the side, I also consult other musicians on varying aspects of the music business. Whether someone needs to assemble a solid presskit or they need information on putting together a business plan, marketing plan or just need advice on their stage show or performance, I try to help make the path a little easier.