For those that believe in karma, I was destined for the music business. My parents were big fans of The Moody Blues. My name is taken from band members: Justin Hayward and Ray Thomas. Being named after rock stars seemed to set everything in motion.
My instrumental journey started when I was 8 when I decided on the trumpet. I played the trumpet in band from elementary through high school in Penfield, N.Y.
In 1986 I got an electric guitar and in 1987 I joined my first rock band, Blackout.
My best friend, Grammy Award winning drummer Andres Forero taught me how to play drums. Once in high school I started playing bass for our jazz jams. By 15 I was playing guitar, bass, drums, singing in various choir groups at school, and even started playing the tuba.
I had also begun to write songs and lyrics. At 16 I wrote and recorded my first solo album.
Upon graduating high school I went to SUNY Fredonia for college and became a member of the Tonmeister recording program. A requirement of the program was 2 semesters studying an instrument so classical guitar was the natural choice.
After graduation I went on to do my internship at the Eastman School of Music. This was a great time in my life as I was working in the studio and learning about classical recording. Once at Eastman my live sound skills quickly became relevant and I ended up doing live sound for a majority of the large events, including the Q & A performance with Billy Joel.
I moved to NYC and was able to get 2 jobs: the first was a General Assistant job at Sony Music Studios and the other as a freelance live sound engineer for a small sound company.
I started working with many famous musicians and mix engineers. Being the “get it done guy” I quickly made a name for myself at the studio. I was able to work on various projects with artists such as Duncan Sheik and Luther Vandross.
My next big session was working with Phil Collins on the soundtrack session for Disney's Tarzan. One of the milestones in my career was playing Phil's drumset.
Another milestone in my life was meeting one of my musical heroes Vernon Reid, guitarist of Living Colour. I told him how much of an impact his music had on me and my career. I then told him about the recording I had done in college and he gave me his number and address and said "send me a copy I'd like to hear it."
Also at Sony I was lucky enough to work with Corey Glover, singer for Living Colour. The work I helped with that day became Hymn 1017, the intro to his album.
After leaving Sony I adopted the "freelance" lifestyle working various studio and live sound gigs throughout NYC and NJ. Of note was mixing live sound at the Blue Note, Wetlands, and B.B. King's in Times Square.
The next major turn in my career was being hired at the legendary Hit Factory as the ProTools tech. During this time in recording computer based digital recording was becoming the standard over analog technology. The studio had seven rooms each with a 48 track ProTools system. Until I was hired the position did not exist... not only did I have a new job, but I had to make it all up as I went!
I was working for A-list engineers including Tony Maserati, Kevin Shirley, and even the VP of Sony, Corey Rooney.
The next chapter could not have been more unexpected. The Ringling Circus was in town and they happened to be looking for a sound guy and a guitar player. I set up a meeting with the conductor, was given select charts to learn, and went back that weekend for an audition in Madison Square Gardens. I got the guitar gig, packed up my things, moved to the circus train, and started my career as a musician for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
My first year and a half was playing guitar on the Red Unit (there are actually 3 shows) living and traveling on the circus train.
In 2004 the drummer on the Gold Unit was leaving and the opportunity arose to move to another show. The gold unit is a one ring show that utilizes trailers and RV's to reach the smaller markets the circus train can't access. For the next 4 years I drove all over the US, Mexico, Canada, Spain and Portugal playing circus drums.
I have come back to Rochester to re-group and catch up with family and friends that I missed all those years on the road. Now that I have made a living with music it only seemed natural to continue that process. I continue to expand my teaching student roster and am working on a solo project that will get me back singing and performing live which is what I feel I was meant to do.
Music is at the core of who I am, it's my passion, it's what drives me. I look forward to sharing that passion with you and helping you find the voice inside you.
