He is a guitarist, drummer, singer, producer, arranger
and teacher born in Australia, who was a child prodigy that first began to
play by ear when he was four years old and was a professional musician by
the time he was six.He toured
with the Australian country music star Buddy Williams in the 1960s but this
was stopped by child welfare who demanded he went to school.This did not stop him
performing completely though and being a breadwinner while still a child, he
was a member of The Trailblazers with his sister Virginia on slide guitar
and his brother Chris on drums as well as entering several competitions and
appearing on television.While
still a teenager he moved to Sydney and appeared in many of its clubs
before becoming a much sought after session musician.At the same time he was a member of
the successful Australian group Dragon who toured with Tina Turner among
others and also recorded literally thousands of jingles.During the course of his career he has recorded and performed
with artists and groups including Air
Supply , Eric Clapton, John Denver, the
Dortmund Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Sir George
Martin, Hank Marvin, Men at Work, Les Paul, Joe
Walsh, the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra and Stevie
Wonder. Realising a dream he got to perform with his first and
possibly biggest influence, Chet
Atkins
, and in 1996 they recorded the Grammy Award nominated The
Day the Finger Pickers Took Over the World .
Other albums he has appeared
on are 16 of his own that includes Only, Classical Gas, Endless Road
and The Mystery, which gained a Grammy Award nomination for "Best
Country Instrumental" for its "Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag", Lost in
Love by Air
Supply , One More Kiss by Bluehouse, I Love You
by Diana
Ross
, Double Bill, Just For Thrills and Groovin' by
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, JB50
by Jimmy Barnes and Real Aussies.Recognised for his contribution to music he is the first
international artist inducted into the Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame in
Muhlenberg, Kentucky, and in 1999 Chet
Atkins bestowed him with the title "Certified Guitar Player" for
lifetime contribution, which makes him one of only four to receive
that accolade. The other three being John Knowles, Jerry
Reed
and Steve Warner.
