First of all, what’s with the name? That’s easy: my first studio was in the Tough End section of Orono, Maine. A century ago, this neighborhood, at the confluence of two rivers, had lots of mills, taverns, and brothels.

Tough End Music is a sole-proprietorship for handling the business end of the various gigs that I take part in or produce.  Performing is the fun part, of course, but everything is easier for the venues and me when we can avoid snags with insurance, tax forms, finances, contractor status, and all that other behind-the-scenes stuff.

Currently, I’m performing in various musical configurations – as a band member; a journeyman bassist; & solo guitarist/vocalist – and am looking to book any of these types of gigs. Please get in touch!

We can discuss your event, preferences, and budget and decide on a configuration of musicians (and sound-system equipment, if any) that best fits your needs.

Tough End String Band. After joining up at the beginning of 2016, this four-piece group has stayed busy serving a spicy brew of acoustic music: old-time, bluegrass, jazz, and more! The members are Anthony Viselli (mandolin), Ryu Mitsuhashi (violin), Sam Furth (guitar), Tom Bennett (percussion), and me (bass, of course).

The Collins Band. Formed in 2018, this group provides an upbeat mix of vocal-oriented blues, jazz, and folk-rock, with the responsibilities for singing lead or harmony continually shifting between the four members: Dave Collins (guitar); Rudy Gabrielson (keyboard & harmonica); Crista Koerber (percussion); Chuck Prinn (drums); and me (bass).

Jazz Bassist. I’m solid, dependable, and available for gigs. I picked up the bass fiddle late in life and put myself slightly below Maine’s top-tier players – but continue to learn and improve, and enjoy helping the other musicians in an ensemble sound good. When needed, I also have an upright, fretless electric bass.

Singer-Songwriter. I now concentrate on playing bass  but previously focused on solo acoustic guitar and writing songs – and still enjoy doing those gigs. A sample of “the early years” is available as a 2005 demo, Not Going Home, from several online retailers. I perform at restaurants and coffee houses, alone or with other musicians, and also have found it rewarding to provide the music at those worship services where the congregants are lenient enough to let me perform secular songs as well as hymns and such.

Onward. I joined this Southern Maine group in 2021 when their original bass player moved to another state.   I enjoyed playing classic rock, folk, Americana, and blues with them but resigned after three years because of a personal issue I was dealing with.

Doug Morgan Projects.  For a fun stretch prior to the 2020 pandemic, I performed rock, pop, and other genres with Doug in a variety of  ensemble configurations around Maine, but most often in his house band at a weekly tap-room gig in Hallowell.

Velma. Although the five of us put Velma to rest in 2015, this was the band for which I was best known during its 9-year run. Velma focused on soulful jazz-pop and vocal harmonies and, fittingly, was called, “the love child of Ella Fitzgerald and Lyle Lovett.”