I was privately trained for 20 years in piano, organ, and voice. I majored in Music at Temple University (Phi Mu Alpha Sinphonia Alumnus) in my hometown of Philadelphia.

My education was fortunate enough to include studying classical and contemporary organ literature with the internationally acclaimed Daniel Desiderio. I continued my education by studying  voice and conducting with Dr. Harry Mechell. Virtuoso guitarist William J. Walton, with whom I studied piano, theory, composition, classical and jazz literature, opened me up to the world of jazz.

While in high school, I began performing and playing professionally as pianist and keyboardist for college musical theatre. I continued my career in professional theatre as a music director, conductor, arranger and performer for 16 years, working with both adults and children. Early in my career I had the pleasure of working with Broadway sensation Susan Stroman (The Producers, Music Man, etc, etc, etc...) and I'm very proud of her vast accomplishments.

My career spans over 30 years and includes extensive work as a solo, group performer, band leader and session player throughout the east coast and Canada. I did contracting and subcontracting work for major booking agencies in the tri-state area of Philadelphia which included Laird Music, Peninsula Entertainment, The Ken Silver Agency and Nino Barry. Performances on a regular basis at major hotels in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Wilmington and Manhattan included DuPont, Warwick, Franklin, Bellevue Stratford, Latham, Marriot, Hilton, Sheraton City Center, Rittenhouse, etc. In the Philadelphia, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey area I played exclusive private 'member only' clubs on a regular basis that included The Whist, The Locust Club and Harbour League as well as many private estates, yacht and country clubs.                                            

While in the Tampa region of Florida, I played regularly at the exclusive Vinoy and Don CeSar hotels, Saddlebrook, yacht clubs and many private homes. I was the featured performer at the internationally famous Clearwater Beach Hotel for over 5 years while performing in 3 different group configurations 5 nights a week with 'standing room only' crowds on weekends. During my time in Florida I was also a nationally certified activities director, ADC, and state certified nursing assistant, CNA, for almost 10 years. I specialized in geriatric and rehabilitation services in the nursing home and hospital setting. Each day was an opportunity to bring music into the clinical and recreational environment that was immense benefit to the resident, patient and staff populations.   

Some of the playing highlights of my career include performances as conductor and pianist for the one-and-only Mickey Rooney. I was pianist at a series of teaching clinics with the most recorded guitarist in the world, the late, great, Tommy Tedesco. The singing highlights have been with the Temple University Concert Choir under the direction of Robert Page. The Choir performed and recorded under the baton of Maestro Eugene Ormandy with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Choir was honored to perform with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Carlo Maria Giulini in a worldwide broadcast for the 30th anniversary of the United Nations.

I have also appeared for or performed with: actress & singer - Susan Anton; R&B artist - Archie Bell; Mr. QVC- Bob Bowersox; jazz & classical guitarist - Charlie Byrd; jazz guitarist - Jerry Byrd; Las Vegas legend - Claiborne; the one-and-only - Rodney Dangerfield; legendary big band vocalist - Connie Haynes; guitarist -Jef Lee Johnson; R&B superstars - Blue Magic; sports legends - Mike Schmidt & Fran Tartenton; saxophonist - Bobby Zankel; trumpeter & saxophonist - Glenn Zottola; governors, mayors, prominent diplomats, political and presidential candidates.

My Atlanta projects have included working on the debut recording of Koni Lee in 2002. As a spoken word songstress she included a variety of urban and jazz flavors on this project while playing 17 instruments along with numerous other instrumentalists and vocalists.
CD Baby writes  “…some the featured musicians on the CD are: Raheem Moss - who played with the late, Grover Washington, Jr. and Roy Ayers in studio as well as the incredible pianist, Mr. Darren Ginn. The songs on the CD are about relationships that women find themselves in or that they shy away from, social consciousness, songs about everyday life, positivity and songs about her heritage”.
Koni continues to write in preparation of upcoming recording projects.


In 2004 I had the pleasure of working on the debut recording project for my good friend and Atlanta's own Steve Cardone. I am featured on three of songs where I play solo piano for Steve's vocal. The radio release of the classics "My Funny Valentine" and "Mona Lisa"  made it to #7 and #9 on the adult contemporary charts. The songs also played on MovieTunes in over 18,000 theatres.

Teaching is an area that I am passionate about. Working with young aspiring musicians as well as seasoned professionals and amateurs of all ages, I found many people that did not have a well rounded understanding of theory and how music works in general. This prompted me to begin teaching many years ago. When I studied with William Walton who was a Dennis Sandole disciple, I was given permission to teach the same method and expand upon it as it naturally evolved. My varied experience gives my a unique perspective on working with people who are truly interested in expanding their talents and musical understanding. I am in professional association with MENC.

I am the music director with the children’s organization For Kids Only, Inc.. FKO is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3), a non-profit corporation, which is dedicated to producing an interactive entertainment platform for kids. The focus of this program is to educate and provide awareness about all the important issues that kids are facing in todays society.

I am also co-owner of Winning Edge Productions, which is a full service multi-media production and design company, and AGM publishing. In 2006, my music partner Al Messina and I were appointed co-music directors of Artist Guild Global.  AGG handles complete production and management services and includes production companies for music, television, feature films and talent management.