My interest in music began before I can remember. My earliest memories are sitting at the piano banging out melodies or falling asleep to the sound of my dad's finger-picking on his guitar. I began formal piano lessons at age five and by the age of fourteen I was competing in classical piano and composition competitions and holding regular paying gigs at local resorts and restaurants providing music for special events in my hometown of Colorado springs, Colorado. By the time I graduated from high school I had performed numerous times at the five-star Broadmoor Hotel and Resort, Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the Cliff House, and Seven Falls in Cheyenne Mountain.
After receiving a music scholarship to Belmont University, I moved to Nashville, TN to pursue a degree in commercial piano performance. In 2005 I partnered with Jason Barton and Chris Lockwood to form the pop/rock Contemporary Christian Music trio 33Miles. I signed a record deal with INO Records (Now Fair Trade Services), and a management agreement with Thomas Vasquez Entertainment. We played over 120 dates a year from churches to performing arts venues throughout North America including notable performances at the Pepsi 500 NASCAR Race in Atlanta, GA televised nationally on CBS, The Crystal Cathedral, The People's Church, Franklin, TN, and almost every major Christian music festival including Ichthus Festival, Alive Festival, Atlanta Fest, Big Ticket, and many others. (They run together after so many shows...)
We recorded and released three records with INO Records and released the singles, "What Could Be Better," "Thankyou," "One Life to Love," with the highest being "Thankyou" reaching number five on BillBoard's chart. Our first record, 33Miles was produced by Nathan Nockles (Watermark, Passion) and Sam Mizell (Mandessa, Matthew West). We co-wrote the majority of the record, my name being on "I Can't Deny." Our second record, "One Life" was produced by Brown Banister (Multi-Grammy winning producer, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Third Day) and Nathan Nockles. The last record I recorded with the band was our Christmas record, "Believe," produced by Nathan Nockles. In addition to the popular Christmas favorites we recorded, I co-wrote an original with Carl Cartee, "Finally Christmas."
My relationship began with Food for the Hungry began in 2007 and between 2007 and 2010 we helped facilitate child sponsorship of over 8,000 children. In 2008 I went to Guatemala to meet my sponsor child and give several concerts throughout Guatemala.
I left 33Miles in 2010 with the birth of our first child, Gabriella and went on staff as Pastor of Worship Arts at Grace Church in Granger, IN. Having worked with the best studio musicians in Nashville and sharing the stage with Christian Music's best performers, I have over 10 years of working professional music experience to develop musicians as performers, vocalists, instrumentals and ultimately better worshipers. I have production experience ranging from concert promotion and production, concert PA systems to training and managing employees such as FOH engineers, lighting directors, road managers, child sponsorship volunteers and representatives, bus drivers and crew.
My goal is to see excellent music and use of the creative arts to benefit the body of Christ within the local church. After holding numerous developmental positions I have gained an appreciation for building teams and instilling knowledge and confidence to invest and bring up new leaders. My heart is to inspire and create disciples who can further the Kingdom through music and make disciples on their own.
I am married to my high school sweet-heart who is the most beautiful, servant hearted woman I could have ever asked for. We are venturing into the terrible-twos with our oldest daughter, Gabriella who just figured out how to say, "No, I don't think so." Our second son, Palmer, was born in March and we're praying he starts sleeping through the night soon. Mindy is our token dog who makes our family pictures complete and is hanging on by threads (according to my sweet wife.) I am a blessed man.
To God be the Glory.
