Jazz instruction wasn't so easy to find in the early 1960s, but D'earth crossed paths with Henry "Boots" Mussulli, who was a veteran of the big band days.

[1] This Sicilian alto saxophone player and arranger had opened the Sons of Italy Crystal Room, a speakeasy that presented acts like Count Basie and Roy Eldridge in nearby Milford.

He co-founded the group Cosmology (Vanguard Records) with bandmates drummer Robert Jospe and singer Dawn Thompson — whom D'earth later married.

[1] Before heading for New York City, Thompson had helped found the famed Prism Coffeehouse musical venue in Charlottesville.

D'earth regularly plays at Miller's Downtown on the Charlottesville pedestrian mall with other musicians including JC Kuhl, Pete Spaar, Jamal Millner, DJ Harrison, Pureum Jin, Brian Caputo, Wells Hanley, Adam Larrabee, Brian Jones, and many others.

9 with Devonne Harris (drums), Bob Hallahan (piano), and Pete Spaar (upright bass).

D'earth makes frequent appearances with younger up-and-coming players as well as older mainstay musicians alike in the Richmond, Virginia, area.

D'earth is known for his work with musicians such as Miles Davis, Buddy Rich, Dave Matthews Band, and Emily Remler.

[1] D'earth appeared regularly with his vocalist wife Dawn Thompson, who died August 31, 2017, after surviving nine years with brain cancer.