I was born in 1964, in Belfast, Ireland. I started trombone at 12, failed famously. Had to take up piano as no other instruments were available.
Taught myself guitar with Leonard Cohen and Kris Kristofferson, joined classic choir at 12, and sang all the standard repertoire for seven years. Started formal piano lessons at 13, but had already picked up basics at home.
Music really became a force in my life during the UWC strike of 1974, when the loyalist paramilitaries cut the electricity, gas, water and blocked roads all over the North of Ireland, for weeks to resist power sharing with Catholics, they won, no democracy and the conflict dragged on for another twenty odd years, but in this time of candle light sing songs I found my vocation.
I went on to University but music kept me on course, sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse. I work as a solo artist and also in various combos in Hamburg.