I started playing the guitar when I was about 13 or 14 years old. I tried lessons, but found them boring and playing the wrong type of music. During my teens, I was in a few basement (garage) bands. In St. Louis, most starting bands played in the basement. We never made much money but had lots of fun just practicing.

I have always considered myself a frustrated musician. I have a good ear for music, but was never able to master playing an instrument. I play a little guitar, pick at the keyboard and have played the drums in the past. When I first started using computers to create music, it was with a Commodore 64 using Music Construction program. Then I bought an Amiga which at that time was superior to the PC with music and graphics.

My current setup includes a home made Pentium 4 - 1.8GHz PC, SoundBlaster Audigy, Roland E-36 Intelligent Synthesizer, Casio CT6500 Keyboard (c.1985 used for mainly electronic piano and organ sounds), and a Roland 16 channel mixer for taping. I use Cakewalk Professional for sequencing and modifying MIDI files. I like the features and flexibility Cakewalk provides me in arranging the songs. I like all types of music but I center on pop and classic rock.

In November 1996, I was diagnosed with a cancer called Metastatic Carcinoid Syndrome. This is a rare form of cancer that has spread to my liver. It’s a slow growing cancer, but has no known cure once the symptoms have developed. To control the symptoms I was taking 6 daily injections of a drug named Sandostatin. Now I'm on a treatment of two injections a month (givin at the sametime) of Sandostatin LAR. It does a good job of controlling the symptons and is likely to help control the growth of the tumors.

I tried working a regular schedule but had to go on disability near the end 1997. The company I had worked for has been very wonderful with helping me and my family in many ways.

Good luck and take care,
Phil