Drew

I began playing and writing music in the late 60’s. After performing in various R&R bands through high school and college I went on tour in the 70’s with a band called Mirkwood (named after a forest in a book from Lord of the Rings). During this period I opened for numerous acts throughout New England on and off the college/nightclub/concert circuit including John McGloughlin & the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Steve Goodman, Livingston Taylor, comedian Robert Klein and many others. I was also featured as lead guitar player for the C&W band Billy Ray and the Virginians.

In the late 70’s I was introduced to Pete Seeger and helped to develop the non profit environmental organization Ferry Sloops. As president of Ferry Sloops I produced and performed in many concerts while raising money to build the environmental ship Sojourner Truth on the Hudson River. The ship was built over a seven year period and during that time I produced and performed in concerts featuring artists such as Pete Seeger, Tom Chapin, Tom Paxton, Don McLean and others. During this time, I was instrumental in convincing the Mozart Concertina Organization to open their theatre to musical acts and this resulted in a popular new venue called the Tarrytown Music Theatre in Westchester NY.

After the Sojourner sloop was built, I moved on to perform with Riverrun which was named after one of the largest ‘used’ book stores in the US where me and many of my friends gathered over the years in Hastings on Hudson NY to share songs and tales. For a few years on any given evening you might have found the likes of Pete Seeger, Jerry Silverman, me and other musicians picking and grinning with a dozen or so other musicians. The instruments could include everything from electric & acoustic guitars, stand up bass, banjos, the saw, keyboards, mandolins and percussion instruments - trying out new songs and playing the classics.

My passion is writing music – something I continue to this day. I am a songwriter and I've been writing music and songs since 1964 when I wrote my first song ‘Railroad Track’. My early influences were Mo’Town sounds, Wilson Picket, early rock & roll, the Beatles, Brian Jones’ era Rolling Stones, Dylan, Clapton, Randy Newman and innovative country rock. I moved from there to study and be influenced by classical music. From there I rounded out my sphere of inspiration by performing with some of the most renown American folk artists. I guess that's why I've written songs in all genres including rock, country, blues, popular, and classical. My song titles include country sounds like “That’s what I get For Loving You” and “Sweet Virginia”, rock sounds like “I’d Be A Fool To Love Her” and “Watchagonnado”, standard sounds like “A Lifetime Of Loving You”, popular sounds like “I Was Born For You” and “ Craazy Laazy”.

Recently, I decided to do something I have not done before - open up my compendium of songs and begin recording. My songs are being made available to other artists interested in recording and performing new songs that will be received well by a wide variety of audiences and a few niches. Some of my songs have been audience tested while others await discovery. I hope you like them.