Greetings!
I am a Musician/Street performer and moved to York County in 2005. My main forte is fiddle music, of the old folk music persuasion, but I also regularly perform with the Viola, and Mandolin and sing and play various percussion. I have been performing in and around the York region since moving here, in various bands or solo situations. Early in 2015 I found myself in a bit of a crossroads and quit my career as a Cook/Chef which I had been doing for 21 years. I went to play some fiddle at the Green Dragon market the next day, just to feel free and alive, and I had such a great response it occurred to me that perhaps this was something I could do for a while, until I figured out what to do with myself. Somehow music has continued to be my full calling since then, and I am continually grateful for the opportunities I have given and receive to be on this path. I am currently busking and performing at least once a day everyday of the week and can be found at the Baltimore Farmers Market on Sundays, First Capital Dispensing co on Mondays, Roots Market on Tuesdays, Kitchen Kettle village on Wednesdays & Thursdays, Lancaster Market on most Fridays and any number of various places on Saturdays. I’ve been active in York County at the Central Market, The Stadium, Various Street Fairs, Various Restaurants and Bars, Care facilities, private events and wherever I am invited.
In my youth I was raised in and around the Renaissance Fair circuit in Central and Northern California, and actively helped produce and put on many many fairs, as my parents both ran different acting and performing guilds. The thing I really loved about Ren Fair was the easygoing camaraderie that could be had between patrons and the actors. The costume and the premise created an environment that was safe for conversation, safe for interaction, safe for play regardless of age. The thing I didn’t love about Ren Fair was that this freedom, to share a moment of whimsy, was locked away inside a costume or an event. When developing my street act I realized that I could help create a space where people could interact with each other on a lighthearted level by shifting an otherwise somber setting to something rather bombastic and unexpected. Without a fee, expectation or agenda. About 8 years ago I embarked on creating a one and band percussion situation, and have been refining it over the years, but it is essentially a combination of Acadian style seated clogging with a bass drum and pedals. When I perform at these markets I put out a basket of musical toys at and get a lot of interaction with kids and the public all playing along. It can be quite remarkable having a big gaggle of kids all rocking out and enjoying life on the sidewalk. It spreads a lot of joy, and creates a positive experience for the public in a very accessible way, and has given my life a lot of purpose and meaning. I know I’ve inspired a lot of kids to pick up the fiddle and I’ve seen quite a few videos of little tykes creating their own one and bands at home. Earlier this year some kids playing along at the Baltimore market were the on front page of the Sun, which was proud moment.
I believe that live music performance is a very straightforward way to raise the vibration. Because of that I do my best to encourage more music and musicians by playing music with the kids & public, or working with bands. I’ve worked with many various local bands, currently I’m playing with local Musician Ronn Benway in a duo called Snack Club, In a Bluegrass Trio Called R.J. Reynolds and Second Hand Folk with local musicians John & Micheal Seval, and in an Irish Trio called the Patrick Players with Long time local Irish musician Matthew Ward, and a great drummer from Baltimore Norm Myers. Last year and the year before I was in a duo called The Part Time Managers and we played various world music and Americana. We were featured by Witf and had a fair amount of success around the region. We were somewhere every Friday and Saturday night and busking together during the day as well. Eventually we found it too difficult to make it full time together for financial and personal reasons, but in the process my mate George Papazekos has been able to establish himself as a full time musician in the region as well. Through our playing together I was able to help connect him to various locations and businesses. And I showed him the ropes for a couple years on how to be a successful street performer. This is something I’m most proud of as a musician, insofar that I have been able to help create and continue a better scene, and give George a chance at a life he hadn’t thought possible. I was also able to open up The Green Dragon Market to other musicians, and it has now become a regular performance spot for a few local musicians, and others giving it a go here and there. And I’ve helped and encouraged other folks at various markets to get to busking and having more time with their craft. I have seen things slowly grow over the years, to the point that markets have begun to treat buskers just as other vendors, and they have come to appreciate and value what we are bringing. 8 years ago often you weren’t sure if the police would move you along, since then, the public has come to accept street music a great deal. I know this is growing all around the country, but it’s been fun to help pull it together here a bit.
I have some original recordings and have slung many a Cd around the county. Most with The Part Time Managers, but some solo stuff from before as well, these can all be found on You Tube. I’m working on recording a new album here and there when I get a rainy day. Mostly my focus is on doing my best for the community, and growing what I can and where I can with the opportunities given. And having fun with it!
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