My first musical influence was an uncle who played the accordion and I found myself at the age of five lugging the suitcase sized instrument to lessons and gatherings of like minded musicians. After a couple of years my interest waned and I had discovered an instrument which was easy to transport and came more naturally-my voice.

I listened to a variety of 45’s from artists of the late 50’s and early 60’s, such as Elvis, The Everly Brothers, Del Shannon, Roy Orbison and T.V. stars like Ricky Nelson, Perry Como and Pat Boone. With the aid of the transistor radio and American Bandstand, popular music continued to capture my ear.

With the introduction of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show came a realization of how I could focus my musical ability and interest:learn guitar and join a band. In junior high my first band was Mr. Fludd’s Party, in high school came NOYB and a determination to follow a music path which found us at Shula’s Nite Club, as the house band shortly after high school. After a two year stretch in the U.S. Army I resumed performing with: Patchwork (1975-’77), Calico(1978), Teaser(1979), Flyte Band(1979-’80), Silent Partner(1980-’83, an acoustic guitar & vocal duo), Fine Line(1984), Landslide(1988-’89, which included Faith Hills drummer, Trey Grey), L.C. Roxx(1990-’92, with Larry Coverdale who played on Tommy James’ hit Hanky Panky).

I found myself wanting to return to the acoustic guitar and a repertoire I had developed over the years. Playing solo in 1995 and as a member of the Simonton Lake Trio (1996-'98)the music kept it's acoustical nature. In 1998 drummer Bob Godfrey(former member of NOYB)joined the group that developed into The SL4. Today with Brad Milliken on keyboards and vocals and Bill Chester on bass guitar The SL4 is in it’s element playing the rock music of the 60’s and 70’s and my acoustic guitar is still part of our sound.

I started playing drums at age 10 and took rudimentary drum lessons from Ken Beatty, the original drummer from "The Tempest", a popular local band in the sixties. I was also taught drums from my grandfather, Ray Siegal, who was an orchestra leader in Chicago for many years. I can still hear the Ump, Bah, Bah's grandpa used to shout out when teaching me to play the old polka's (Turkey in the Straw, etc.). I played drums in the school band in junior high and high school and formed a band in junior high called "The Elements of Rock". The name changed to "Noyb" in the late sixties, a popular local band playing the National Guard Armory (65 consecutive Wednesdays), YWCA, and many high school dances. I graduated from Elkhart High School in 1970. "NOYB" became the house band at Shula's Night Club in Niles, Michigan playing six nights a week from 1971-1972. I started playing with the Simonton Lake Trio in 1998 which is now known as the SL4.

Elkhart native and resident, I started out playing 6-string guitar when I was about 12 (a long time ago!!!!) Pretty much owe my interest in music to my oldest brother who bought 45's like candy bars and banged out Elvis impersonations on a cheap guitar, to great laughter from my family. Seriously, there was always music in my house as my folks both played piano and organ. I remember listening to WLS out of Chicago each night before bed and WABC out of NY in the morning before school. Switched to bass when the bassist in my first band, Sound's of Persuasion, moved out of town. I later spent many years playing with Lamonte Heflick and His Grayhorse Band doing rock, country and bluegrass. I played some really fun,original music with the groups Retribution and Babelfish.
I had followed Don Kilgren's work for a number of years and admired his talent, so I really appreciated the chance to play with him forming the Simonton Lake Trio in 1996, and have been working with him since. My goal is to continue performing strong, melodic music that appeals to a wide age group, even though getting older and grayer.

My mom taught piano so as a little guy of three, I was sitting there playing "Mr. Peanut Man". Along with lessons came practice every day, which I pretty much hated. This went on until that debut on a Sunday evening on The Ed Sullivan Show of the Beatles. The first 45 I bought was "Eight Days A Week". Shortly thereafter I was at the music store buying their sheet music. When I talked mom into letting me play the Beatles songs, things started looking up.

Kids I went to school with that I see today say they didn't know I played keyboards and sang as I didn't back then. It all started when my brother and two sisters wanted to do something special with a surprise twenty-fifth anniversary for mom & dad. We knew Sheila Jacobs in Niles who played drums, so brother John (playing guitar & bass) and I recruited her and put together a band for the party. It was a total surprise for our parents and we sounded good together. Job offers started coming in and we added a guitarist also from Niles, Steve Sutterfield. The band was called Ayrtite and we played locally from 1976 to about 1981.

After years of gigging with my brother, we started to go our separate ways. He started "Hot Flash" and I kept Ayrtite around for a while. Then I got a call from "The Senturys Of Sound". They were looking for a keyboard player so I joined them in 1982. I loved the sax in the band and everyone sang. The band has been around Elkhart since about 1964. We added a female vocalist in 1991 and have played the local clubs regularly. Recently, we'd had a problem keeping a steady guitar player and when Don Kilgren called I listened to an offer. That weekend I found myself playing with The SL4. So, once again I quit my own band and here we are. Tight vocals, tight instrumentally and playing music we all grew up with. Life is good!
Thanks Mom. (Now if I could only remember how "Mr. Peanut Man" goes.)