I started guitar lessons at age 11, bought my first bass guitar at 13, and started playing local Niagara Falls bars and dances at 14. Music was my income source until 1978 when it took a back seat to a career and starting a family. I did manage to get a BS in computers along the way. Computers provided for me and my family for the next 37 years. That career included speaking on technology in 24 countries and 48 States, publishing over 5 dozen articles and 9 books, and editing another 2 dozen books on database technology. Of course, my greatest accomplishment during that time were my two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
I still found a little time to perform my music during that time. However, when I came close to retirement, music became a full-time thing again. Today, I play gigs around the greater Houston area and do studio recording with a local band, play the occasional open mic when time allows, I provide bass lines to musicians all over the world to use in songs they are producing, and I supply bass for artists who do not have full-time bass players at one of the local Houston recording studios.
My personal website’s first paragraph says it best; “I’m passionate about family, music, cars, the mainframe, and especially about DB2. I thrive on sharing what I have learned over the years, solving technical problems, and learning and messing with the latest technology…”
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’m married, have two great daughters and 4 four terrific grandchildren, 2 girls and 2 boys. My Mom is still with us but lives back in Niagara Falls, NY. I am also Italian on both sides of my family as far back as we were able to trace.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
This is covered pretty much in the opening bio. I started out in music, eventually got into computers, retired, and then went back into music.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
J Christopher’s, Marco’s, Miya Ramen Bistro, Mencius
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
27 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I have met few people since I moved to Kingwood. However, one that I have dealt with through his car shows, is Dr. Scott Mosby, DDS.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Oslo, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Florence, Brussels, and Juneau. Of all the places I have visited, they were maybe the most enjoyable and the ones I wouldn’t mind seeing again.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Hard to say, it’s constantly changing. Right now, Ghost, Resident Alien, and Blacklist top my TV list. As for movies, near the top would have to be my favorite Christmas movie, Die Hard. Also, I’m a big fan of the Resident Evil series, Underworld series, and maybe Top Gun.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
You can do anything you make up your mind to do and always be true to yourself.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Don’t have a bucket list. Other than becoming a world-famous rock star, I have pretty much already done more than a lot of people could ever dream of doing. I am quite happy with my life, except the not being a rock star part.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
I own hundreds of record albums, I mean vinyl type, and even far more CDs. The music I have found that I don’t care to listen to I can count on one hand. Even when I open Amazon Music, I have hundreds of playlists. Of course, I am a bit partial to the Beatles. BTW, I assume you don’t mean recordings of me, correct?… LOL
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Mountasia, Sparky’s Sports Cards
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Thom Rotella. Growing up I would consider him one of my closest friends. However, I haven’t seen him for 40 years. He went to LA and few years later I moved to St Louis. Not sure were to eat, I guess Carrabba’s.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
It used to have lots of trees everywhere.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Hopefully, still alive.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
You pick…. Huey crew chief in Army National Guard, started kindergarten at 4, first inductee into the Niagara Falls Hall of Fame, attended Catholic school for 13 years, including 4 years at an all-boy Catholic high school.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
My home State of New York; especially Western New York and the area around Niagara Falls is spectacular even if I am a bit biased.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
October because the temps are dropping. Holiday would be Christmas, maybe Thanksgiving.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
I’ll have to say it a tie between two very materialist things. My bass and my car.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My Mom
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Favorite smells… Bolognese sauce , apple pie, jet fuel
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, love, comfortable
