Before the Music, behind the Music, within the Music, is Tehilla, the Undying Song of the Spirit.The following summarizes how Tehilla has resonated within me:
My Music “Ministry”1959 1st Church of Christ, Scientist Derby, KS
• pre-school Sunday School brings awareness of God (age 5)
• backyard solo Voice and Dance Worship experience, during which
I see "God peeking out from behind the clouds"1961 Elementary School Limestone, ME
• Bible Summer School – 1st visitation from Jesus (age 7)1963 1st Church of Christ, Scientist Homestead, FL
• Salvation experience (age 9)
1963 1st Church of Christ, Scientist Huntsville, AL
• full time Sunday School attendance
• first piano lessons
• 1st public performance at a Piano recital
1964 – 1965 1st Church of Christ, Scientist Redondo Beach, CA
• full time Sunday School attendance
• 2nd public performance, playing accompaniment to PTA meeting skit
• 3rd public performance, in a Piano recitalDuring this same time, I met and became friends with Frank Zappa, who
named the song "Dwarf Nebula and Processional" from a description I gave
him, of the dwarf nebula I had a picture slide of. I told him about God, but I
don't think it mattered to him.1967 – 1971 1st Church of Christ, Scientist Bellevue, WA
• part time Sunday School pianist
• many public performances, at school "noonies", functions and other meetings
• composed and performed score for original Drama Class play, during Senior year
• invited to perform for Senior Graduation ceremony; played an improvisation loosely
based on Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Take A Pebble" During this same time, I received offers to play piano/keyboard with:
• Sha-Na-Na
• Pink Floyd
• José Feliciano
• Janis Ian (collaboration resulting in the song "At Seventeen")
1967 – 1971 (cont.)
During this same time, I wrote 6 movie theme songs for Laurie Johnson, who was a
classmate. I also wrote the Love Theme for the 1970 version of "Jane Eyre", starring
George C. Scott. I did it as a favor to George, who was never able to return it.In 1973 I was invited by Guitarist/Vocalist Nancy Wilson to join her and her sister, Ann,
in Canada, to help form a rock band that they were going to call "Heart"….
In 1977 I met a member of the Cannon Group, who was attending the same college
where I was studying. My association with this person resulted in my providing him
with a 5-tone sequence which later became World-famous from its use in the movie
"Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind". I did it as a favor to my friend from the Cannon group.In 1978 I was invited to study piano with Vladimir Horowitz, who had heard me improvising.
He told me that I had "the makings of a great pianist". Too bad I didn't have the finances of
one, so I could have afforded to take Vlad up on his offer….In 1978, after returning from college, I wrote a song, which I was going to publish and record.
The agent I was introduced to made a recording of the song, and then disappeared, leaving
me with nothing. It is known today as "Nadia's Theme". God knows.1981 United Pentecostal Church Federal Way, WA
• part time Worship pianist1981 - 1983 United Pentecostal Church Bellevue, WA
• full time Worship pianist
• Piano accompaniment - Choir
• Piano accompaniment – Solo Voice and Instrumental worshipDuring this same time, I received offers to play piano/keyboard with:
• The Steve Miller Band1985 United Pentecostal Church Long Beach, CA
• parttime attendance only1987 – 1992 Calvary Apostolic Fellowship Garden Grove, CA
• full time Worship pianist
• Piano accompaniment – Solo Voice and Instrumental worship
• Piano accompaniment - ChoirDuring this same time, I collaborated on movie themes for:
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Perfect Weapon (starring Jeff Speakman)1992 – 1993 Vineyard Christian Fellowship Anaheim, CA
• CAIR group graduate
• co-leader 26-week Men's 12-step Recovery group
• Worship seminar attendance
• 1-on-1 Worship Music guidance from Eddie Espinoza1994 – 1998 Southland Vineyard La Mirada, CA
• full time Worship pianist
• Piano accompaniment – Solo Voice and Instrumental worship
• Piano accompaniment – Choir
• Elijah House Basic Training graduate
• Large Team Ministry Training graduate
• Small Team Ministry Training graduate
• Board of Elders ('94 - '96)
• co-leader, Home group ('94 – '95)
• co-leader, Home group ('95 – '96)
• Leader, Home group ('96 – '97)During this same time, I received offers to play piano/keyboard with:
• Pearl Jam
• Pluto Boy
• The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince)
• Helen Baylor
• Larnelle Harris (backed up)
• Mariah CareyDuring this same time, I was the original Keyboardist for JAMS, 4-piece backup band for
"Higher Calling" a 6-person female vocal group supporting Crystal Lewis (Dove Award-winning
Contemporary Christian Female Vocal Artist).During this same time, collaborated on more movie themes:
• "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You" - Love Theme for "The Mask of Zorro";
performed the string part on keyboard, using MIDI; played the keyboard accompaniment for
Marc Anthony and Tina Arena, at the debut of the song• the "Lab scene" theme, for "Alien Resurrection", starring Sigourney Weaver; this theme
was used as a basis for much of the rest of the movie's score During this same time, I was asked by Dino Kartsonakis to give him some lessons on Improvisation.During this same time, I studied briefly with John Novello, famed contemporary Jazz Organist.
1998 – 1999 New Hope Fellowship Vero Beach, FL
• full time Worship pianist
• general Ministry and Leadership involvement
1999 Vineyard Christian Fellowship Hartford, CT
• visiting Worship pianist
• Home group participant1999 – 2000 Vineyard Christian Fellowship Gresham, OR
• full time attendance
• Home group participant
• Alpha program graduate; played keyboard at final meeting's dinner2001 – 2004 Vineyard Christian Fellowship Hartford, CT
• "on call" Preacher
• "on call" Worship Leader
• Associate Pastor, Prison Ministry/Visitation (2003)
• Associate Pastor, Youth Outreach (2003)
• full time Worship pianist ('01 – '04)
• Home group participant
• Home group Worship Leader ('02 – '03)
• Home group LeaderDuring this same time, I received a follow-up offer to play piano/keyboard with Mariah Carey.
I declined, after not hearing the Lord say to pursue.During this same time, I collaborated on movie themes:
• "Ultraviolet" (fireworks scene) – this theme was used as the basis for most of the rest
of the score
• a Marilyn Monroe-type character made-for-TV movie
• the Nexium ("the purple pill") TV commercial – solo keyboard2007 – 2009 Restored Life Fellowship Arcadia, CA
• full time Worship pianist
• part time Home group Worship Leader (2008)
• Speaker, Men's Retreat (2008)During this same time, I received offers to play piano/keyboard with:
• Carlos Santana2010 – 2011 Vineyard of Grace Fellowship Ft. Worth, TX
• Part-time Worship pianist2011 – Present Various Fellowships and Sites Continental U.S.• Business travel as a Contract Engineer presenting few options for musical
involvement, although some opportunities to play occurred, which I took