I'm just a local boy from the island of Maui in the middle of the big blue Pacific Ocean and have been gifted with the talent to sing, play music and write some good songs. My roots are in Hawaii where my music has grown into a beautiful mongrel mix of influences just like the people who live here- East, West, Hawaiian, Haole, Indigenous, Pop, Rock,Reggae, Folk, Blues, Jazz and whatever else tickles the ears. I am a singer/ songwriter and play many, different stringed instruments including slack key ( Ki Hoalu) , modal and open tunings on guitar. Last year, I was nominated for the Na Hoku Hanohano Music Awards in the category of Best Acoustic Contemporary Album of the year for Under Da Mango Tree, Beside Da Mountain Stream-The Maui Years. My musical influences include Gabby Pahinui, Keola Beamer, Olomana, Taj Mahal, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Mississippi John Hurt, Joni Mitchell, Buffy St. Marie, Robbie Roberson, Ry Cooder, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Leonard Cohen, Leo Kotke, John Fahey, U2, the Grateful Dead, the Incredible String Band, Indian ragas, Madi Gras Indians, pow wow drumming, Celtic tunes, Walt Whitman, e e cummings, William Blake and various delta blues street singers, gypsy guitar players, outlaw country singers and midnight gospel choirs