When I was a kid, I remember my grandpa sitting on my bed playing this big band record he had saying, "Aaron, do you hear all that going back and forth on the speakers? That's called percussion." Before then, he and I always listened to classics like Bill Haley and the Commets. Here, my love for music grew.

At about the age of 7 I think, my older brother and I started taking piano lessons down the road from our house. I studied the piano for about four years. This was the beginning of my learning of basic music theory. I quit, mainly because I couldn't seem to find an instructor that I could stand for more than 10 consecutive minutes. Toward the end of that era, I joined the school band and took up percussion. The more I got into that, the less I was interested in the piano. This is another reason I eventually quit and began to study drums and percussion privately starting in the 6th grade I believe.

In 8th grade, I was asked to play in the high school band a year early, which was a great experience. I had watched my brother play in the marching band for a few years at that point, and now I was going to join him on the field his senior year.

My freshman year I marched the bass drum and the snare drum all of the previous years and started to personally listen to some harder music and more obscure stuff. Basically whatever my brother and his friends recommended! I wasn't much of a pioneer in those days. In my senior year, I was co-section leader and band president. Yup, lead band nerd! During my high school career, I won countless awards in marching and concert band as well as solo and ensemble contests (which I always found to be more nerve-racking than anything else).

The year 2000 marked new beginnings for me. I was asked to guest appear in a local community college orchestra with a small part featuring guest composer Quincy Hillard (whoever the hell that is). Then I won the National Achievement Award for Music by the National Achievement Association. I'm not real sure what I achieved, but never-the-less…they awarded me for it. "I'd like to thank the academy..." I also began playing with the rock group Ripple nearing the end of high school and on into college.

Ripple is where I started to discover my writing style in an eclectic musical environment and did so for the next 4 years with them. Near the end of that, I also started experimenting elsewhere sitting in with various bands and finding some musical mentors. Joe Chirco (formally of the Zen Tricksters) and I met when Ripple opened for the David Nelson Band (formally of the Grateful Dead). He introduced me to some new musical styles in the eclectic funk and jazz format. I didn't get to really study with him, but we traded riffs and he opened my mind to new worlds. Later (end of 2003 I think), I met drummer Evan Stone (formally of Salty the Pocketknife, John Tesh, Aly & AJ and now with Greg Adams, Jason Feddy and others). Dustin Diamond (Screech of "Saved by the Bell" and bassist for Salty the Pocketknife) gave me his email and we started chatting. Before I knew it, I was designing the STPK website. Evan has become a good friend and mentor helping me hone in on the particulars of drumming with his extensive experience in jazz and rock. Even today, I still send him my music for critiquing. He taught me "the key to playing is listening." I'm constantly trying to grow as a musician, and his help has made a great impact.

In the beginning of 2004, I left Ripple and joined modern rock group, Broken Ground. Here the musical style was more mainstream. I had a great time with this band traveling from Fort Lauderdale, FL to performing at CBGB’s in New York City. By the time of my departure in mid 2006, we had released an EP called "Bleeding Ear" and gained fans from all over the country. I had a lot of fun with but felt it was time for me to keep exploring.

Which brings me to present day. I am busier than ever. I’m playing with a band called EM5 which features my brother John on bass as well as good friend and guitarist extraordinaire Ken Walker. I've been with EM5 since mid 2005. It all started as a fun cover band. Basically a reason to jam once a week but eventually became a serious project based on the elements of rock, blues, funk and a lot of the "jam band" mentality.

As of December 2006, I am now the newest member to the Cincinatti band patientZero. Just after their release of their 2nd independant album, they have asked me to join the ranks as the new drummer. I've never been happier in a playing environment than what I am right now.

I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by great musicians who've helped me out in various ways from musical lessons, advice, getting me gigs, and putting in a good word for me. I'd like to thank all of them as well as my sponsors Attack Drumheads and Bosphorus Cymbals. Both have treated me with the utmost respect and also provide me great service (look at me. I'm quite the spokesman! No but seriously, they rule).

Thanks for reading. If you made it all the way through…I'm impressed. Proof to yourself that you need to get a life! I'm not that damn interesting. But regardless, I appreciate it. I'll see you soon...