HOW I GOT HERE:
I moved to Australia way more than 222 full moons ago, and have been playing in a variety of successful festival bands ranging from Delta blues to Gypsy world music.
And NOW? “See here how everything leads up to this day”: forming Horse Drawn Cadillac with friends that I have played with in other bands, to celebrate music as a journey through new and forgotten landscapes!

MAJOR HARP INFLUENCES:

For harp, the main inspiration are players who treat the harp as a horn or percussive addition to a band.
For Blues, ANY of Muddy Waters’ long list of great harp players in his bands, Rod Piazza for that jump and jive, and Mickey Raphael for Country. I owe alot to Charlie Musselwhite and John Mayall for “accessible” styles - AND I really do owe everything to Jim Conway, from the original Backsliders - an amazing player, and I would not have gotten to where I am without his toootelage!!

MAJOR SONGWRITING INFLUENCES:

UM, so many!
Truly, for poignancy, irony, humour, I love Chicago’s favourite son John Prine and Oz wordsmiths too, from Kelly to Crighton!

IF I COULD PLAY IN ONE OTHER BAND:

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Sadly, the Commander never asked me, and he passed away in 2021, but it is the spirit of their music - humour, a big band giving each other space, and a rollicking good time, that I strive for with HDC….

”Rock that boogie til the break of day, then let the man come and take me away!” RIP Commander!

SONGWRITING PHILOSOPHY IN A QUOTE/LYRIC:

“I try to write from the perspective of the untrustworthy narrator” -Randy Newman

CURRENTS:

Apart from this fine band, I’ve had the joy of playing and recording with Benji and the Saltwater Sound System since it’s  origins, and sitting in with the Moonhounds when the moon is just right. 

I want everyone to play, and play better, so lessons and workshops are part of the mix.