From rural Indiana, was rhythm guitarist for the punk band The Gizmos in the late 70s. Later with roots rock band The Blue Chieftains during the late '80s/early '90s in New York City. A Nashville resident since 1993, had songs recorded by John Prine, Asleep At The Wheel, BR-549, Robbie Fulks, Kasey Chambers, Bobby Bare Jr., Sunny Sweeney, Sonny Burgess, and many others, as well as having had songs in major motion picture soundtracks and used on television.