Although born in Kentucky and raised in Kansas City, I came to Lawrence in 1983 to attend Kansas University and never left.
While securing a degree in film studies, I earned a full-time living as a musician by teaching guitar/bass lessons at Mass Street Music, playing in a variety of working bands (The Budinskis, Easterday, Groovehead, Bobby and the Chuxx) and toiling as a sound engineer/producer.
In 1993, I embarked on an unexpected career in journalism via a seven-year stint as music/film editor at The Pitch, a Kansas City weekly newspaper, where I co-founded and produced the first four KLAMMIES (the Kansas City/Lawrence Area Music Awards). Additionally, I hosted "Nightlife," a music/sketch comedy segment of the weekly series "KC Roundabout" on Time Warner Cable.
I joined the Journal-World in 2000, first as editor of its weekly entertainment publication, The Mag, then later as the daily's entertainment editor.
In addition to my journalistic endeavors, I served four years as president of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, and composed the official record label bios for artists such as Evanescence, Jeff Beck, Leon Redbone and Joe Satriani.
Lately, I've become immersed in filmmaking by writing or co-writing the short films "Paint Shaker," "Zero the Counter," "Merriman's Circle," "Misfortune Smiles" and the feature "Stuck!" Occasionally, I even turn up in front of the camera, acting in pictures such as "Watch Out," "C.S.A. — The Confederate States of America" and the upcoming "Earthwork."
I share a house with my wife, Ann, who is director of video media for the World Company, and daughter, Lola.
I have no tattoos.
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