And the story goes…
I still remember when I was a little kid laying on the floor of my grandparents living room in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and watching the Beatles’ first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and somehow knowing at that moment that music would always be a part of my life. I was 6 at the time. There used to be a tape of me singing ‘Downtown‘ by Petula Clark floating around — my first recording 😂 Now I’m 68, and music remains a part of my life, with lots of unique experiences along the way – some good and some not so good. And so it goes.
About Me
I began public performing at the age of 15 playing coffee houses and off-campus venues around the University of Arizona with people much older than me – some Vietnam Army vets and college students. I dropped out of high school my senior year (1975) and went to California, where I worked for a while before returning home and joining my brother who had just signed up for the Army – where I spent 2 years and was stationed in Germany. After I got out I moved back to Germany where I started performing in German guest houses, local youth centers, and anyplace else they’d have me – a repertoire of acoustic singer-songwriter covers from the likes of Loggins & Messina, Cat Stevens, and other popular artists of that period, along with originals. Eventually I found my way back home and began exploring the local music scene in Tucson, Arizona.
It was at that time that I began writing and recording my original material, and even got a couple of songs played on local radio. And then, while attending Pima Community College, I placed a message on a community board looking for other musicians to jam with. That’s when I met Thom Bissey. We hit it off and began exploring a kind of pop-reggae style of music that often got us compared to the Police. We eventually formed the band Short Stories (formerly Étude with drummers Larry Munguia and Gary Monteleone), and after going through a series of drummers settled upon a permanent lineup consisting of bass player and vocalist Thom Bissey, drummer Ernie Mendoza, keyboardist Phil Stevens, and myself on guitar and lead vocal. We produced an infectious brand of ska-infused originals, combined with a knack for strong lyrical hooks. It made for high energy performances that eventually resulted in a 4 song EP and included the catchy singles I’ll See You Again and I Don’t Know.
As a solo artist, I enjoy writing, recording, producing, and expanding my body of original works, including instrumental pop-jazz fusion inspired Midi arrangements, and a few select cover songs from some of my favorite artists including Loggins & Messina, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Lindsay Buckingham, and Bob Marley to name just a few – although my musical influences are wide-ranging from Bach and Beethoven to Miles Davis, David Bowie, and many singer-songwriters from throughout the decades. Nowadays, I live in Frisco, Texas where I operate a digital media consulting business, Digital Doo-wop, and continue to explore new opportunities in music. I also enjoy traveling, photography, movies, and cooking. I hope you give a listen and enjoy the tunes, and if you find something you like, please share or drop a note and let me know. Cheers!
(L to R) Ernie Mendoza – Drums | Tom Gonzales – Guitar, Lead Vocals | Phil Stevens – Keyboards | Thom Bissey – Bass, Lead Vocals.
Working up a sweat.
Doing a little catching up after a show with my brother Edward.
Tom, Thom, and Ernie.
Me in downtown Dallas, out having fun.
We did have some really good times making music.