About Me

I completed my schooling in Croydon, England, studied French, German and Russian in Birmingham, then moved to Cologne, Germany in the mid-Seventies to work first in the building materials trade and then as a sales rep for 3M Do-It-Yourself products. In 1984 I talked my way into a German music-publishing company and became a radio promoter, which served as a stepping-stone for the next 16 years of promoting over 130 of the world's most famous rock and pop stars of the 80's and 90's. Elton John, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Robert Plant, Lionel Richie, Donna Summer, Def Leppard, Tears For Fears, Dire Straits and Kiss were just a few of the artists I had the privilege of working with as, among other things, Head of Promotion and International Marketing Manager of Mercury Records, Germany. One of my most memorable recollections is standing on the Berlin Wall in 1989 as it was being torn down, then accompanying Pink Floyd's Roger Waters as he put on his legendary rock opus "The Wall" in July 1990 on Berlin's Potsdamer Platz. Around the turn of the millennium I bade the "biz" farewell and became a professional German/English translator, a profession that allowed me to work anywhere in the world. I had always loved visiting the States, and maintained an on-off love affair with Florida for the next 2 years before eventually arriving in Sarasota in 2001 on my birthday, February 17, while touring Florida on my Harley. I knew the second I saw St. Armand's Circle that I wanted to settle on the Sun Coast. And when I met my wife Maria shortly afterwards, the decision to move out of my Hamburg apartment was an easy one. In 2003 I discovered my love of acting, and have since enjoyed roles in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Bells are Ringing, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Zorba, WillmS, Oliver, The Sound of Music, Murder at Cafe Noir, Got A Minute? 2006 + 2007, Sarasota Actors Workshop, Theatre Odyssey, Always A Part Of Me, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Run For Your Wife and Candide at the Players of Sarasota, Venice Little Theatre, Manatee Players, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre and the Backlot. A further highlight was in February 2006, when I was asked to be Ringmaster of Circus Sarasota for its 2006 season. And I was pleased and proud to be the Ringmaster for its 2007 10th anniversary season, Celebrating A Decade of Excellence.  Never one to be at a loss for words, I was at WIBQ talk-radio from September 2004 to February 2007 as host of Talk of the Sun Coast. After a recent ten-month stint at Sarasota's Community Radio WSLR, I now broadcast on 1220 AM WSRQ, Monday through Friday from 4 - 5 pm. And I write a monthly column in Scene Magazine. I am proud to be a Board member of the Players of Sarasota, the recipient of the Sarasota County Arts Council 2007 Arts Leadership Award for Media, and I am extremely honored to have been voted one of the top three in the category Best Local Actor 2008 by the readers of Sarasota Magazine.  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

RESUME

THEATRE

2008
If The Devil Could Fall In Love, Players of Sarasota
Chasing The Horizon, Theatre Odyssey 
Candide, Players of Sarasota               
Run For Your Wife, Venice Little Theatre 

2007
Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre
Got A Minute? Play Festival 2007, Backlot Theatre
If the devil could fall in love, Players (reading)
ExIsles, Players of Sarasota (reading)
Always A Part Of Me, Backlot Theatre
BUG, Backlot Theatre (reading)
J-Cabaret: Diva LaVoix, Flanzer JCC/YMCA

2006                              
Blue/Orange, Backlot Theatre (reading)
The Sound of Music, Players of Sarasota
Darwin's Bulldog, Backlot Theatre (reading)
Sarasota Actors Workshop, Backlot Theatre
Got A Minute? Play Festival 2006, Backlot Theatre
Murder at Cafe Noir, Manatee Players
The Pretender, Players of Sarasota (reading)
The Lives of the Saints, Players of Sarasota (reading)

2005
Oliver, Players of Sarasota
WillmS, Players of Sarasota
Darwin's Bulldog, Players of Sarasota (reading)
Circle of Flame, Players of Sarasota (reading)
Zorba, Players of Sarasota

2004
How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Players of Sarasota
The Sound of Music, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, Sarasota
Bells are Ringing, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, Sarasota
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Players of Sarasota

RADIO

Dec 2007 - Present        
Host, Talk of the Sun Coast on 1220 AM WSRQ

Feb. 2007 - Dec 2007    
Host, Talk of the Sun Coast on 96.5 FM WSLR

2004 - Feb. 2007             
Host, Talk of the Sun Coast on WIBQ 

PRINT

2006 - Present                  
SCENE Magazine, columnist

MASTER OF CEREMONIES / AUCTIONEER
Animal Rescue Coalition, Feline Flair, June 2008
Economic Development Corporation, E.D. Rocks, June 2008
Gulf Coast Men's Chorus, Broadway, Our Way, May 2008
MCC Foundation, Evening Under The Stars, May 2008
InStride Equine Assisted Therapy, Run For The Roses, May 2008
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, The Fast and the Fashionable (Car and Fashion Show), May 2008
Ave Maria Preparatory School, Miracle Fest 2008, April 2008
MCC Foundation, Evening Under The Stars, Venice Campus, April 2008
Temple Emanu-El, Tribute Gala & Dinner Dance for Rabbi Brenner Glickman, April 2008
Sarasota Film Festival, 10th Anniversary Ball, April 2008 (Producer, MC and Auctioneer)
Sarasota Film Festival, Lunch Under The Banyans, April 2008 (Auctioneer)
New College, Pique-nique-sur-la-baie, 25th Annual Luncheon, April 2008
Asolo Repertory Theatre's 2008 Gala, A Star Is Born, March 2008
Child Protection Center, The Venetian Masked Ball, March 2008
The Wellness Community, Flight of Hope to Ancient Rome, March 2008
Salvation Army, Glitz at the Ritz, March 2008
Women's Resource Center, 2008 Renaissance Luncheon, March 2008
The Hermitage Artists Retreat, Beach, Brunch & Bidding, March 2008
Van Wezel Foundation, 7th Annual Gala with Patti LaBelle, February 2008
Sarasota Chorus of the Keys, Greatest Singers, Greatest Songs, February 2008
All Children's Hospital Guild, Casablanca at the Crosley, February 2008
Jewish Housing Council, A Saxy Affair: Tribute to Mike & Jewel Ash, January 2008 
Circus Sarasota Gala Fundraiser, January 2006, January 2007, January 2008
Lakewood Ranch Woman's Club Dinner & Auction, Fire and Ice Holiday Soiree, December 2007
Designing Women Boutique, Fashion Week Kick-Off, December 2007
Mistletoe Ball, New College Ringling Campus, December 2007
Sarasota International Cricket Club Gala, 2005, 2006 & 2007
American Cancer Society, Relay For Life Kick-Off, November 2007
FPRA Media Relations Seminar, November 2007 (panel moderator)
Sarasota Welcome Club Luncheon & Auction, October 2007
Second Chance, Last Opportunity, 11th Annual Luncheon, Share The Light, September 2007
Bill Blass New York, Cocktails and Couture, The Table, September 2007
Sarasota Ballet Association, Luncheon for Margaret Barbieri, August 2007
Sarasota Chorus of the Keys, How Sweet The Sound, August 2007
Sarasota Ballet Association, Luncheon for Iain Webb, July 2007
Bird Key Yacht Club, Bill Blass NY Fashion Show, June 2007
Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association, White on State, June 2007
Bird Key Yacht Club, The Met Fashion Show, May 2007
Venice Police Department, Awards and Citations Program, May 2007
Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care, Clowning Around Town Auction and Gala, May 2007
New Gate School, Run For The Roses, May 2007
Bay Haven School, Spring Auction Dinner, May 2007
Keep Sarasota County Beautiful Awards 2007, May 2007
Ave Maria Preparatory School, Miracle Fest 2007, April 2007
Life of Riley Foundation, Riley's Royal Gala, April 2007
Sarasota Film Festival, Lunch Under The Banyans, April 2007 (Auctioneer)
American Cancer Society, Relay For Life 2007, April 2007
New College, Pique-nique-sur-la-baie, 24th Annual Luncheon, April 2007
Embracing Our Differences, Opening Ceremony, April 2007
ALSO Out Youth Annual Fundraiser, Dinner, Dissin' & Dancin', March 2007
Sarasota Ballet, A Tribute to Robert deWarren, March 2007
Junior League, Golden Anniversary Gala, March 2007
Child Protection Centre, Sarasota Comedy Festival, March 2007
Jewish Housing Council, Tribute to Jim & Nikki Nilon, March 2007
Sarasota Marathon, March 2007
Susan G. Komen For The Cure, The Pink Party, March 2007
Gulf Coast Men's Chorus, Tenth Anniversary Holiday Concert, Songs of Seasons Past, December 2006
Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1st and 2nd Annual Daydreams & Wishes Fashion Show and Luncheon, December 2005 & 2006
Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, Celebrating Arts Around the World, December 2006
Designing Women Boutique, Fashion Cabaret and Supper, December 2006
American Cancer Society, Relay For Life Kick-Off, November 2006
Humane Society of Sarasota County, Hot Dogs and Cool Cats, November 2006
CANDance, October 2006 (Auctioneer)
Humane Society of Manatee County, Black Tie and Tails, September 2006
Bachelorette Masquerade Ball, Longboat Key Club, September 2006
Second Chance, Last Opportunity, 10th Annual Luncheon, August 2006
Retirement Roast for Dean Calamaras, Mayor of Venice, May 2006
MCC Foundation, Evening Under The Stars, May 2006
Make-A-Wish Foundation, 15th Annual Wishfest Celebration, May 2006
Sarasota County Arts Council smARTalk panel discussion, April 2006 (Moderator)
Sarasota Concert Band, July 2005/April 2006
Sarasota POPS Orchestra, October 2005/April 2006
Sarasota Chorus of the Keys, The Songs America Sings, March 2006
Ave Maria Preparatory School Miracle Fest 2006, March 2006
C.A.N. All That Glitters, March 2006 (Auctioneer)
Orchid Ball, The Age of Elegance, April 2006

MISCELLANEOUS

2007
Audiobook reader, First Light
Narrator The Christmas Story, CPL, 26th annual Christmas Candle-Lighting Service, December 2007 
Scene Up Close, BLAB-TV, Ch. 21 (guest)
Judge, High School Idol, Education Channel 2007/2008
Winner, Sarasota County Arts Council 2007 Arts Leadership Award, Media
Best Suncoast Enthusiast, 2nd place Best Local Radio DJ, Best Local Actor (Creative Loafing, October 2007) 
Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay (guest speaker)
Sarasota Newcomers Club (guest speaker) 
The Sandra Washington Show, BLAB-TV, Ch. 21 (guest)
Designing Women Boutique Salon Series (guest speaker)
Civic League of Sarasota (guest speaker)
Narrator, Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, CPL, March 2007 
Ringmaster, Circus Sarasota
Actor, TV Commercial "SUNDIAL"
Voiceovers, TV commercials (Players Theatre, Komen Build for the Cure, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Film Festival, Designing Women Boutique, Boys and Girls Club)