After two years of banging on Mom’s pots and pans, my folks caved in and gave me a snare drum for my ninth birthday on June 11, 1963.  Three Christmases and two birthdays later, I had a complete Ludwig drum set in Champaign Sparkle and I was ready to join The Beatles.  Sadly, the call never came.

After five years of studying percussion at the University of Miami Preparatory Division, I co-founded my first band, Euphoria, in 1967.  Mom hated the name.  She suggested something less drug-related like The Report Cards or The All A’s.  We remained Euphoria to her chagrin.

We ruled Palmetto Junior High.  On a spring Friday afternoon at precisely 3:15, we kicked into Jimi Hendrix’s Fire while the kids ran into the cafeteria at the sound of the bell.  The kids dug it.  I was hooked.

Since then, I’ve played drums in marching bands, symphonic bands, symphonic orchestras, orchestral pit bands, jazz bands, dance bands, disco bands, funk bands and rock bands.

Feeling the need for a little harmony, melody and portability in my life, I began to teach myself the guitar in seventh grade.  In lieu of lessons, I would go to school dances and stand off to the side of the stage, staring at the guitar player.  During breaks, I’d ask him how he fretted a certain chord or solo run.  That’s how to learn guitar the hard and slow way.

Eventually, I got proficient enough to play lead and rhythm guitar in some college bands.  Years of singing harmony finally paid off with a few lead vocals.  After college, I spent a little time with a funk band and some two and three piece MIDI groups.

Then I got lucky.

In 1992 The Members were founded by a group of friends and acquaintances all after the same thing: a fun night out, away from the stresses of work and a creative outlet for our pent-up rock star dreams.

In the years that followed, the band morphed into the tight little pop rock machine that it is today.  A night out with The Members is a mix of the familiar and the unexpected.  A reminder to our fans and to ourselves of why we love the soundtrack to our lives.  It ain’t nothin’ but a party.

But we still live for practice.  The gigs are gravy.

Scott still has a day job, while he waits for that big recording contract.  Read all about it at:

www.pinecrestdental.com

High School brought Marching Band, Jazz Band, Orchestral - You name it, I played it, but never took it seriously.  Music was lost in ‘75 until I finished residency at The U in ‘86.  I forgot what a drumstick looked like until Scott’s and my paths crossed in about ‘92.  The rest is history.

Many of the bands in the local venues here in Miami are spin-offs of that one special band created in 1992.  We persevere!

Musical Influences - Early: Beatles, Stones, Dave Clark Five...  H.S.: Sly and The Family Stone, Zeppelin, Sabbath, Journey, Springsteen...  Late: Bon Jovi, Kansas, Bad Company...  Present: STP, Soundgarden, Creed…  My Kids!

Thank Yous - Our Fans: For "Partying With The Members" whenever and where ever "The Party" may be.

  The Band: For that special night, every week, that takes me away from that “Healing The World” stuff.

  Di: For realizing we are all a pain in the butt and always will be… but, “It Doesn’t Matter”…  ”It’s All About The Music”.  I Love You!

Musical Goal - Unrealistic: This whole thing has been unrealistic.  I still can’t figure out how this all happened.

  Realistic: Hope, that through our love of music, our children and their children will always have great music in their lives.

Teach a Kid to sing or play and there will always be music in the world.

I got my first bass (a Kent) from a Latin record store in 1963.  I joined up with a local band in Queens playing instrumentals (The Ventures, etc.).  In 1965, I joined forces with some talented musicians from other bands and formed “Him and Them”, which had a 2 ½ month steady gig, playing six days a week at the New York Worlds Fair, playing mostly British Invasion stuff.  I played steadily for next 3 years with different bands covering Top 40 tunes in clubs around the NYC area.  Cut a few records that never went anywhere and finally traded in my axe for an M-16 and a four-year tour with Uncle Sam’s Air Force Security Police, including an all-expense-paid trip to sunny Southeast Asia for a year.

I played very little after being discharged in 1970 and put down the bass for good in 1972.  Got married in 1976 to my Soul Mate, Nellie, raised a son, Joe jr. and concentrated on work and family.  In 1996 I met up with my long lost brother, (not really, but close enough) Kenny, who was the drummer in most of the bands I played with in New York.  He got me thinking about playing again.

So I bought a bass, practiced every day with old records and tapes, and finally got my chops back and hooked up with the Members in 1999.  I’m currently working for the Department of Homeland Security as the Safety Coordinator for TSA at Miami International Airport.  What can I say, “Born to Rock, Forced to Work”.  If I had it all to do over, I wouldn’t change a thing except that I never would have given up playing on even a small level.

Peace, Love & Togetherness.

Born in New Jersey - Studied Interior Design and Art History.

I was involved in chorus from 6yrs of age into high-school.  My senior year of high school in Orlando, I passed an audition to go to Walt-Disney World for the summer and become a "Caravan Singer".  I decided instead to return to NJ to be a lifeguard.  This is where I met my future husband, (the drummer of this band).  The rest is history.

People I admire – My husband, Steve, nobody in Hollywood, Mother Teresa, because her love was unconditional and Tinkerbell because she was not a princess and did things for herself.

Favorite place to go - NYC.  Hobbies - music, art, wine tasting.

Interests - reading or watching anything on the after-life, UFOs or medical issues.

Favorite song - Come Saturday Morning by The Sandpipers.

Things that make me mad – know-it-all people, any form of abuse.

Things that make me happy - being silly with my kids and dogs, long walks alone on a daily basis (for soul cleansing), and of course, re-grouping with my husband at the end of the day.