People often ask me what kind of music influenced me. As with my reasons for taking up the guitar, there is no straightforward answer, as many things happen over the years to develop a person's musical taste. Here's what I think happened...

I attribute much of my 'musical ear' to my mother's involvement with the local women's church singing group. As a baby and small boy I was taken to many of the regular choir rehearsals and was exposed to a broad range of music that was being performed to a very high standard. I would have heard all sorts of music from church hymns to Broadway musical hits!

Childhood was in the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's. With three older brothers and two sisters in the family, I was naturally introduced to all manner of modern music of the day including the Beatles, Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, Jim Croce, Elton John, The Who, ABBA, Elvis Presley, ELO, The Cars, etc, etc, etc....! There was also television and many different TV show theme tunes that my ears and mind soaked up.

My parents love classical music and had a collection of old records that we listened to occasionally. I remember borrowing one at the age of 10 and taking it to school for the class to hear. It was Beethoven's 5th symphony and I don't think my friends enjoyed it!

Like the rest of my family I was encouraged to attend church and was involved in various activities there. I was fortunate to have been taken to hear a good number of choral and organ recitals which were definite high points.

As a classical guitarist, I have been exposed to many different styles of music from renaissance (especially while learning the lute), baroque and classical periods, romantic Spanish and South American, avant-guard modern and popular styles. Listening to music played by overseas artists such as Stepan Rak has also influenced my taste in music.

While studying at university I was exposed to a wide range of styles of music involving different instruments, not just guitar. At various stages of my musical career I have worked with orchestral instrumentalists including cello, flute, string quartet, guitar ensembles, mixed ensembles and symphony orchestra.