Born and raised in suburban Ohio, Doc took up drumming at the age of 10 as a student of public schools, where he marched and played in orchestra and jazz bands. Doc was not from a musical family, however his parents always encouraged his activities and had popular contemporary music on in the house or car wherever young Doc happened to be. Doc's first set of drums was a Christmas present of a 1960's Gretsch Round Badge 4-piece kit with Zildjian and Zilco cymbals. The most memorable performance of that period was playing in a 13-piece Blues Brothers band at a going away party for a priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Stow, OH, in 1984. During his first tour of military duty, which began in 1986 and continued through the first Persian Gulf War until 1993, Doc attended the University of North Carolina and studied percussion performance under Dr. Cort McLaren, taking part in his first recorded performance: Philip Parker's Five Pieces for Clarinet and Percussion Orchestra.  

In 1996, Doc enrolled and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia. Not studying music this time, his Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded as a double major in English (literature) and Religious Studies (world religions.) Doc seamlessly continued his studies beyond the BA level and was awarded a Master of Teaching English degree in 2000 and went on to teach English, journalism and religious studies in the public school system. While at VCU, Doc was fortunate to be granted an opportunity to play with, then, upcoming Alt/Indie artist Pat McGee.

Back in The Day.


This is quite the story.....