​My Music (Past and Present) 
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
 George Bernard Shaw

Background - Making music is part of the fabric of me

Making music has been part of me since childhood - and the first instrument I learned to play (after the family player piano) was a tuba/sousaphone in a public school in 3rd through 5th grades. In 6th grade, my parents moved me to parochial school with no band program, ending my playing of tuba and sousaphone.  I did not play a tuba/sousaphone again for over 40 years.  At age 52, I wanted to see how much I remembered - and rented one.  I was pleased both by how much I remembered and that the fun/passion for playing returned.  As I got better, I joined a community band - which experience led to other opportunities/bands - such that in retirement I’ve enjoyed making lots of music with the sousaphone and tuba - even marched in a Portland adult marching band in Obama’s inauguration parade in 2009. I also enjoy playing drums, guitar, some ukulele, and some keyboarding (chords and bass line for classic rock and roll garage band with my grandkids - see below).  

Current Musical Adventure - Memory Care/Assisted Living Sing-alongs​

In 2021 (with my traveling curtailed because of the pandemic) I began exploring opportunities to play/sing some of the old sing-along standards and folk songs with a percussion stomp box and looper. A few fun open mic experiences inspired me to focus on putting on a music program for memory care/assisted living residents - just as I had seen my Dad do for many of his senior years.  I have put together this web page (http://www.SongMemories.org) to further explain and promote this effort which now includes regular programs at many area memory care/assisted living residences.

60's Garage Band With My Grandkids

​In the 1990s, my son became quite an excellent pianist, guitarist, and drummer - and we enjoyed hours of replaying the classic rock 'n roll songs of my teenage years (me playing bass line and chords on keyboard, and he on drums). Fast forward 30 years and now my two teenage grandkids (children of my older daughter) are the drummer (age 19 granddaughter) and guitarist (age 16 grandson) recreating the family garage band.  Following is a you tube a June 12, 2021 recording (played with son on bass): https://youtu.be/3tIjr1r3Jcg .  Other clips are available on my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/ntogtworoads

Sousaphone/Tuba With Portland Bands

with: Portland's Power Pep Band (www.powerpepband.com)
Soul Finger (Oct 2021) at Portland Marathon
Beer Barrel Polka
Great Balls of Fire
Midnight Hour
Hey Baby
at Portland State University basketball game:
Forget You
I Saw Her Standing There

with: Portland's One More Time Around Again Marching Band (www.omtaamb.org)
June 1, 2019 Concert at Oregon Zoo -  (I recorded from my position in tuba line)
Brown Eyed Girl
I Want You Back
America The Beautiful
June 3, 2019 - 30 second on the parade route at Starlight Parade
        ​
with: The Beat Goes On Marching Band (http://www.thebeatgoesonmb.org/) - including playing in Obama's Inauguration Parade in 2009

Busking New Orleans Sounds in Portland

with: Stumptown Gumbo - In 2012, a friend and I started creating New Orleans-style street music with just his trumpet and my sousaphone: https://youtu.be/HOmEO-andas and https://youtu.be/iCnDghgJz9c

Playing Banjo (sometimes Drums)

with: Lewis River Dixie - 2005-2011
​2011: https://youtu.be/n0oINjqgDyo and ​https://youtu.be/5XbmDPmAtLo