[2] At twelve, he began playing guitar, listening to and learning solos from his brother's R&B records.
[2] After graduating high school he continued his guitar studies with Harry Leahey and then Dennis Sandole.
[2][1] In 1969 he got a job with Trudy Pitts after it was vacated by Pat Martino[2][3] and toured extensively.
[5] Beginning in the late 1970s, he was a member of bands led by Gerry Niewood, Teo Macero,[2] Jimmy McGriff,[6] and Charles Earland.
[2] He has also worked with Harry Allen, Freddy Cole, Junior Cook, Joey DeFrancesco, Kenny Drew Jr., Etta Jones, Gene Ludwig, Ron McClure, David "Fathead" Newman, Greg Osby, Houston Person, Irene Reid, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dave Stryker, Stanley Turrentine.