I just moved to Richardson, TX
from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I attended the University of Southern Mississippi. I
studied jazz under professor/saxophonist Larry Panella and classical guitar
artist/professor Giovanni Dechiaro. I recieved a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis
in Jazz Studies.
I taught guitar and bass
privately, as well as class guitar in public schools, in the Laurel and Hattiesburg, MS
area for over five years. I also worked as a freelance jazz and classical guitarist, and
performed duets with my wife, flutist Kristina Havard.
After a stint as a bassist for
local blues artist T-Bone Pruitt, I landed a bass gig for Afroman in 2001. We toured the
southeast for a while, mostly on the college circuit as a trio. Afroman fronted the group
and played guitar, I played bass and tapped bass on a restrung 7-string Danelectro guitar
that allowed me to play keyboard as well. Premo Stallone held down the drums and he and I
became known as The 2 Zigg Zaggs- Afroman's touring band. Popularity of Afroman and his
song "Because I Got High" grew exponentially until Universal Republic records
signed on Afroman, then on independant label T-Bone's Records. I then purchased a Chapman
Stick Bass(SB8) and began my career as a Stick player. The band grew to a six piece after
adding DJ Mr. Mixx (of 2 Live Crew fame), and old friends of Afro, Sam and Stan Sistrunk,
were backup singers. After touring nationally and internationally in support of the
platinum album "The Good Times" and hit song "Because I Got High", the
band disbanded in December of 2001.
As luck would have it, Cookout,
a jazz/rock/funk quintet who were also on the T-Bone's Record label needed a new bass
player the same time I got off the tour with Afroman. Starting in January 2003, I toured
with Cookout throughout the southeast. Harry Crumpler-saxophone, Casey Robinson-guitar,
Ben Maddox-keyboards and Wurlitzer, and Brad Newton-drums were formidable musicians as
well as best of friends.
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During my stint with Cookout, Brad Newton and I put together a jazz
combo with trumpet/harmonica player David Morgan (also a member of T-Bone Pruitt's band)
and added dynamic saxophonist Thomas "Tiger" Rogers to form The Stick Quartet.
Brad, Harry Crumpler, and I also joined up with local MC, Longwood Gamballa to form The
Jackers, an experimental hip-hop outfit. The Jackers have since become The Griffenz. The
Stick Quartet continued performing in between Afroman tours.
In the Fall of 2003, Cookout disbanded and Afroman and Tha 2 Zigg Zaggs reformed
and began touring nationally again. Upon regrouping with Afroman, I switched from the SB8
Stick Bass to the 12 String Grand Stick. Afroman along with Tha Two Zigg Zaggs, DJ Mr.
Mixx, and MCs Strainj and Blaq toured nationally extensively through the Summer of 2005
then Afroman decided to tour on his own.
After the second Afroman tour I
began playing more on a local basis in Hattiesburg, freelancing and playing solo shows and
I traded my old SB8 for an NS/Stick. The Two Zigg Zaggs continued performing, and I
freelanced with Kaiso featuring John Wooton on steel pans, blues with T-Bone Pruitt and
the Rhythm Rockers, classic rock/pop with The Soul Doctors, New Orleans Funk with Mojo
Funk featuring Jeff Mills on drums, rock and roll with The Justin Albert Band (formerly
Humble Root), and I sat in with progressive jazz outfit The Empirical Sound Collective to
name a few projects. I also played solo and ensemble happy hours, receptions and brunches.
Since the move to Texas, I've
been seeking private and corporate events who want the best in upscale entertainment
without the noise and hassle of a full band. Check my audio & video samples!
I also do wedding ceremonies and receptions. Contact me today and let me hear from
you.
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