I was born May 26, 1971 ( 9 Ben, Kin 113, 12.17.17.14.15 ) in Port Arthur, Texas.

This industrial coastal city lays down on the flat grassland bayou of what is known as South-East Texas, just a stone throw from the Gulf of Mexico and the state of Louisiana.

I started playing the drums at the early age of 3 or sooner if you count pots and pans with wooden spoons and chopsticks.

My Mother is convinced that I was beating in rhythm on pots and pans before I could talk.

I received my first drum at the tender age of 3 from the Alabama - Cousshata Native American Tribe when my family visited their land near Livingston, Texas.

My parents gave me my first drumset, a blue CB700 kit, as a birthday gift for my 5th birthday.




When I was real young, I attended my first live musical experiences with my Mother's parents.

These live music concerts were mostly religious revivals where my Uncle Rudy de los Santos was preaching the Word all night long in a hot tent.
I still remember watching this beautiful lady sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water", by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle... wow, what a song.

My first major concert was in Lake Charles, Louisiana (Dec. 6, 1979) when I was only 8... are you ready for this... drum roll please... WOW!
"The loudest band in the world... KISS!"
Yes, my Uncle Johnny Savoie took me to see the Dynasty Tour.
I can honestly say that I have never been the same since.

Many more concerts that also changed my life followed that first rocker.

One in particluar... U2's Unforgettable Fire Tour in Houston, Texas (Feb. 27, 1985) ... Wow! I was only 13... thanks to my older Brother, Darren Breaux and his date.

Of course, in my hometown of Port Arthur, I saw many great musicians all the time.

This is where I first heard The Boogie Kings, Jerry LaCroix, "Uncle" John Turner, Edgar Winter, Carmen Appice, Jivin' Gene, G.G. Shinn, Johhny Piggett and many, many more.

A self taught musician, I then picked up the piano, acoustic guitar, and mandolin, all before I even knew the "rules" or "theory" of music.

My "ear" was there since childhood, growing up with vinyl L.P. records of the greats...Elvis, Beatles, Led Zepplin, U2, etc.... and all the live blues, rock, cajun-zydeco, country music one could possibly hear, throughout Port Arthur, Texas', Hwy. 87, the Ol' Orange Highway bar scene, which was walking distance from my childhood home.

I also had a few influential musicians in my neighborhood such as Wayne Vice and all of his brothers...a very musical family.

Darren Smith and Marcus Breaux, no relation, though I'm sure we are kin somehow...my two childhood friends...my first bandmates.

During my teen years, I played in many bands; The 4 Guys, Allister's Gang, Sub-Station Zero.

I also drummed in high school during my Junior year for the Port Neches - Groves Indian Singers, a showband / jazz ensemble.

As a Senior in high school, in preparation for college, I took private music theory lessons with many different Music Professors at Lamar University in Beaumont.

Upon graduation from Port Neches-Groves High School (1989), at the tender age of 17, I traveld to Denton, Texas, north of Dallas, to attend the prestigious University of North Texas, College of Music, to study Music Theory.

After studying intensely for 4 years, I chose to leave, as a senior, after passing the Music Theory Proficiency Exam, now knowing that I now had the tools that I had longed for prior to studying Music Theory.

I then hit the road traveling and playing with original / cover country & western bands, since it payed well!
Tucson, Eric Phillips just to name a few...

After being burned out on the Dallas C & W music scene, I then packed my bags to return home to Port Arthur, at the age of 21, to form and work with an original alternative rock band.

In early 1993, Nog Pon Jami (NPJ), would perform their first concert ever, at Port Arthur's own,
Janis Joplin's Birthday Bash Concert.

From here, Nog Pon Jami went on to enjoy 5 years of regional success releasing 3 recordings that were all self-produced and self-recorded by Nog Pon Jami in our own recording studio on Proctor Street in downtown Port Arthur.

I enjoyed doing a lot of the recording and engineering as well which eventually turned into a major part of my life for those years.

It was 1996 that 3 of the 5 members of Nog Pon Jami chose to give it a shot out in Austin, Texas.

Upon arrival to this great town, I started to work with many other artists in the "Live Music Capital".

Today, I have continued to work with many different Artists based here in Austin, Texas, where I have lived ever since July 4, 1996.

I am sure that I will be performing In Concert some time in the near future!

The list of Artists that I have collaborated with continues to grow!

Austin, Texas has been great over the last 13 years... read more at Afterthoughts.

I have had many opportunities to drum with many different musicians... with many of these musicians being true legends.

As I sit there drumming away, I often wonder... "Why am I up here onstage?"... it is very humbling.

I love my drumming life!

As I often say to those that ask...

"I Don't Blow-r-Bow, I Just Bang-n-Beat!"