I was born and raised in the Boston, Massachusetts suburb of Malden, which also has served as home to actor Jack Albertson (Chico and the Man, Willy Wonka) and Albert deSalvo, a.k.a. The Boston Strangler. Although I have never strangled anybody, I did develop a somewhat sick sense of humor at an early age by constantly listening to Tom Lehrer records. I fondly recall singing the Lehrer classic, “I Hold Your Hand in Mine,” a song about a severed hand, to my sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Giosia, while holding her hand in mine. My classmates loved it.

My exposure to the “dark side” of lyric writing has reared its twisted head throughout my career, in original songs in topical revues at The Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, in my own satirical revue Potshots, which, in the early 1980s, played four weekends at The Duplex in New York City, and in numerous parodies of musical theatre classics.

And now, that adventurous musical spirit is back in full force as I am getting ready to release my first CD, entitled Civility in America, a collection of songs on topics as diverse as Dick Cheney saying “Go f--- yourself” on the Senate floor, Saddam Hussein's oral examination, the German cannibal who advertised online for a “victim,” J.Lo's mom winning 2.4 million bucks on the slots, and many more!

Lest you think that all I do is write songs on bizarre subjects, let me assure you that I have a normal side, too.

For many years I have made a living as a musical director and pianist for musical theatre, although I do fear that after prospective employers visit this site and get to know my “other” side, my future employment opportunities may suffer. Be that as it may, I have conducted an international tour of Forty-Second Street, played on a tour of A Chorus Line, and most recently played rehearsal piano for the Broadway company and the national tour of Little Shop of Horrors. Other recent credits include playing piano in the Remy Martín Concert of Excellence at Carnegie Hall and music directing productions of Swing, Chicago, Footloose and Cabaret at the Westchester Broadway Theatre.

In addition to music directing, I also have written several children's theatre pieces, including the critically acclaimed Revenge of the Garbage Monsters, The Little Moon Theatre and The Little House of Cookies. The latter two shows were written for the New York-based children's theatre company TADA!. If you visit their website, you can hear songs I've written for them, including their signature song, “TADA! Here We Are,” which, I am told, is taught to tens of thousands of New York City school kids every year as part of TADA's outreach program.

Before returning to New York in 2002, I served as Resident Music Director of Musical Theatre Southwest (formerly Albuquerque Civic Light Opera Association) for eleven years. I also served as Music Director of the Albuquerque Philharmonic for five years. During my extended time in New Mexico, I conducted over fifty shows and dozens of symphonic concerts. In 2000, I received the prestigious Bravos Award for Musical excellence from the Albuquerque Arts Alliance.

I've done other stuff too, like conducted night club acts in several Caribbean countries, and in a former life, I was a pastry chef and baking instructor, culminating in a stint at my brother's European pastry shop, Gelpe's Old World Bakery in Minneapolis.

Thanks for your visit. I hope you enjoy the trip.