Place of birth: Rothbury Cottage Hospital, Northumberland.

Place of residence: Sandwich, Kent.

Earliest musical memories / influences: As a very young child, I watched my mother playing fantastic stride and boogie-woogie piano for her solo pub sessions in Ipswich.  Thinking back, I’m sure some of her ability to play by ear, her accurate pitch and her ability to transpose on-the-spot burrowed its way into my attentive toddler’s brain.  Towards the end, she asked me to teach her how to play ‘in a modern way.’  The irony really amused me; I was not nearly as good as her!

Favourite artists / bands: T. Rex, Elton John, Simple Minds, The Waterboys, Talk Talk, Pink Floyd, Bruce Hornsby and The Range, Professor Longhair, The Rolling Stones, The Band, Keith Jarrett, ABBA, France Gall, David Bowie, Sade, Donny Hathaway, Ian Brown, Joan Armatrading, Kate Bush, Scott Walker, Supertramp.  These are the artists i listen to for inspiration the most.

The best single ever recorded: ‘Telegram Sam’ by T. Rex.  I went into a record shop with my own money for the first time, age about 13, and bought this superb single. I felt very grown up. I’m still seriously bowled over by Bolan.

The best album ever recorded: Impossible to choose just one but currently ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ by Elton John.  (My best album ever can change from day to day).

Best live concert ever attended: Ian Brown, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent 2007.  Fantastic pounding band.  Ian Brown had a punch-up with someone near the stage...which didn’t seem staged!  It was all seriously menacing – and a superb night out!

Equipment used: Korg Poly-800, Korg X3,  Korg Triton Xtreme,  Roland RD700nx. Currently playing a Nord Electro 6D.

Past bands and musical ventures: Birt’s Boogie Band (rock/pop covers), Scoobie (function band, covers), Us Not Them (Pink Floyd tribute), EK1 (soul-funk covers band), Orwell & Lester duo (pub/function covers), Penthouse (original indie material), Mashville (Americana, covers and originals), The Blues Bandits (Blues covers),  Nine Below Zero (Brit Blues legends - guest keys player at three headlining gigs), Camarata (four-part classical/contemporary choir), Mainsqueeze (Blues orientated covers), Midnight Crawlers (Blues covers and originals), The 20th Century Boys (pop/rock covers), After Dark (jazz/soul covers).

What made you join the Crow wagon: The desire to add suitable keyboard and vocal parts to the band’s songbook which will complement the arrangements played so well already by the band.  To have a lot of fun enhancing the band’s sound on the way.

Your visions, ambitions and expectations for The Old Country Crows: To stay for a good while and work to enhance the band’s renown and popularity.  To help gain exposure for the band.

Your favourite moment as a Crow: So far, the enjoyment of playing a full set with the band on keyboards at the ‘Invisible Highway’ album launch at The Lighthouse in Deal in 2024.

The Crow song you wake up in the middle of the night singing: ‘Get A Vest On’ because my wife wants the man in the song to wear something else. I love that this concerns her!

Any other business: I pledge allegiance to the Crows…​​