Biography
As you can see from this biographical page, I have gone through many musical phases in my life. Starting off in Lansing, MI playing the drums in the high school band, then playing guitar & keyboards in two well-known Michigan rock bands in the 60s ("The Plagues" & "Plain Brown Wrapper"), then moving here to southern California to gig with my first wife in various LA venues as "Departure", then at age of 37, I decided to learn more about music composition, first at CSULB (B.A. & M.M) and finally earning a Doctorate in Music Composition at UCSD. So then, with my educational credentials, I became a full-time professor at Imperial Valley College (2020) and taught a wide variety of music classes till 2015. I retired from teaching in 2015, healthy with plenty of time on my hands,
so I have returned to my first love...
writing and performing "classic" jazz and pop music.
Now available for concerts, clubs and private functions
throughout the San Diego area!
Rock Bands
&
Jazz Ensembles
1965-1966
Lansing, MI
1966-1971
Lansing, MI
1971-1976
Lansing, MI
1985-1990
Long Beach, CA
2000-2015
Imperial, CA
1976-1985
Long Beach, CA
THE PLAGUES
Lead Guitar & Vocals
Gigs: Club & Concert Dates
3-45rpm Record Releases:
That'l Never Do/Badlands
Thought This World/Why Can't You Be True
I've Been Through It Before/Tears For My Eyes
PLAIN BROWN WRAPPER
Lead/Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Gigs: Clubs, Concerts & Festivals
3-45rpm Releases
And Now You Dream/You'll Pay
Junior Saw It Happen/Real Person
Stretch Out Your Hand/Stretch Out Your Hand Blues
MOODS
Lead/Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Gigs: Weekly and Monthly Bookings in Night Clubs,
DEPARTURE
Lead/Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Gigs: Casuals, Clubs & Concerts Venues
1-45rpm Release
When?/Raindrop Fall
CSULB JAZZ BAND & VOCAL JAZZ
THE THOM RADER BAND
SERENADE
Classical & Electric Guitar & Vocals
Gigs: Off Campus , Casuals & Concerts
THE IMPERIAL VALLEY JAZZ BAND
STANDING ROOM ONLY (6 piece jazz band)
Guitar & Piano
Gigs: Casuals, & Concerts Venues
Local CD Release
LAST NIGHT - VALLEY JAZZ (Jimmie Cannon - Director)
Education
&
Degrees
1990-1995
UCSD
1988-1990
CSULB
1985-1990
CSULB
PhD Degree in Music - Composition
University of California, San Diego, CA
Dissertation: “Themes in Exposition” for Double Concerto
for Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar and Antiphonal Orchestra
Doctoral Committee: Brian Ferneyhough, Bertram Turetzky,
and Rand Steiger
Masters Degree in Music - Theory & Composition
California State University, Long Beach, CA
Thesis/Recital “Starscapes” for Choir, Piano and 4-Track Tape
Advisor: Masters Commitee Justus Matthews and Martin Herman
Bachelors Degree in Music - Composition
California State University, Long Beach, CA
Recital: “Dreamscapes” for Octet and 4-Track Tape
Academic
Awards
1988
CSULB
Carmen Dragon Scholarship Award
Outstanding Composition
1990
CSULB
Excellence in Music Composition
Graduation Scholarship Award
2004-2005
Imperial, CA
Imperial Valley College
The Ralph Santos Outstanding Professor 2004-2005
2002
Imperial, CA
Imperial Valley College
President's Distinguished Service Recognition Award
760-960-4829