What inspired you to pursue a master’s degree in Music Business and Industry, and what led you to choose West Virginia University specifically?
Master’s degrees in the entertainment industry are very unique. Even more unique are programs adaptable to professionals. Many programs are led by an academic philosophy that disregards professional experience as sufficient standing to enter or return to the classroom. I investigated several programs that I felt provided strong areas of study but lacked enthusiasm for an established career individual. That all changed within minutes of my first conversation with West Virginia University. I knew immediately that I had found the right environment to achieve my education goals. Not only was I impressed with the course content, I was inspired by the faculty behind that content. The Music Business and Industry master’s degree at WVU also allowed me to return to my undergrad and early journey roots as a recording engineer and studio manager, which is where it all started for me.
You’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names and networks in entertainment, from ESPN to MTV and ABC. What first sparked your passion for audio and live production?
This is a story that starts as most do: I was in the right place at the right time. To make a short story long, I was in a band in Nashville that had enough industry interest to make the move to Los Angeles. At the time, the recording industry was still using 2-inch analog tape but experimenting with digital recording on hard disks. On a demo session for an upcoming indie label, the engineer came down with food poisoning, and as he handed me the keys to lock up on his way out, I found myself putting my instrument down and finishing the remaining tracking duties for the EP. This was at a historical studio in the heart of Hollywood on Selma Avenue between Wilcox and Cahuenga Boulevard. Large format, analog, all tape. Unbeknownst to me, on the other side of the outdoor patio was the backdoor of another major facility and the owner was keeping tabs for his sick friend. Impressed that I had finished the project on time, powered everything down properly, cleaned up the facility, and secured the doors, he offered me a job.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before those large-format analog studios fell to the revolution of modular home recording. Unemployed and with no other studio contacts, I took an evening position at a Burbank-based rehearsal facility. As a synth/keyboard technician, I was sent out for a private corporate performance by Phil Collins at Staples Center. Moments before the show started, the keyboardist’s main synth (Korg) went down. With the band panicking, I flipped the synth over, pulled out a drill gun, and disassembled the synth to access the power supply. With a quick reset of the connections (a common issue with that model), I quickly screwed it all back together, and the show went flawless. Astonished, Phil himself called the company. That recommendation led to my first TV experience as a keyboard tech, a live performance by Robert Plant on Jay Leno. The rest, as they say, is history.
How do you plan to integrate what you’re learning in the program with your long-term career goals? Where do you see yourself after completing your degree?
I have been very fortunate to have had a dynamic career, but this road is challenging. It’s highly competitive, and one must continue to be creative to stay relevant and work. I’m very happy in my current position as an engineer for iHeart, and I intend to stay as long as possible. Having worked multiple Academy Awards, considered the pinnacle of television gigs, I can say I proudly accomplished every goal of mine out west. After years of effort to return to Appalachia and to academia, my focus is to complete my degree(s), share my journey, and hopefully be invited to present to the next generation at an institution.
What advice would you give to young creatives hoping to build a career that bridges both the academic and music business worlds?
Have integrity. Apply yourself and absorb as much as you can in those environments. These aren’t office jobs (not that you won’t have a desk). The entertainment industry requires quick thinking and an open mind. The old saying “the show must go on” will always be first and foremost. When it’s your job, any shoot, any session, any performance must happen. Lean on your degree and your dream. Show confidence, jump in, be professional, take the punches, and continue to adapt. Careers are out there if you have the endurance and an approachable personality. Both are essential in the trenches.
What advice would you share with new online graduate students at West Virginia University who want to make a meaningful impact, as you have?
I’m very impressed with my graduate classmates at WVU. They are all exceptional, and I can tell that each of them will succeed in whatever area they gravitate towards as professionals. Each week of classes, they continue to prove the depth of their commitment and their grasp of today’s industry. I have learned as much from them as I have from the faculty. It’s an honor to study alongside them.
Is there a quote, mentor, or defining moment that has guided your career path?
Throughout my career, I have deliberately searched for experience on set, in the studio, or on the stage. No one can work on every project, so the opportunity to learn from someone else’s career path is everywhere in this industry. New ways, old ways, things even the most seasoned have never seen before are always around in this world. Ask questions, share experiences, and build relationships. Be someone others can depend on to bring projects to fruition.
If you could describe your professional journey in three words, what would they be?
Pound the pavement.