Born on Henry David Thoreau’s 101st birthday, Skip got started in his music career at age 4 in Portland, Oregon, singing on the local TV show “Talent on Parade”. After taking lessons on piano and cello, Skip went on to teach himself bass fiddle, soprano saxophone, guitar, drums, trumpet, bass guitar, French horn, shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), synthesizer, tuba, trombone, vibes, marimba, flugelhorn, bouzouki, baritone horn, and finally steel pan.

He has toured across Europe and the United States (including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City), Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, The South Pacific, and the Caribbean. In 1998 he taught himself steel pan and pays regular visits to the West Indies to research, collect, and play music.

Skip has studied music with Ray Brown, Red Mitchell, Leroy Vinnegar, Richard Davis, David Friesen, Victor Wooten, and Glen Moore. He has performed in a wide variety of musical groups, including 3 Leg Torso, Obo Addy and Kukrudu/Okropong, I & I Reggae, El Conjunto Alegre, La Mayor Salsa Orchestra, Andrew Hill, Pete Christlieb, Diane Shuur, Mazeltov Orchestra, Oomph Klezmer Orchestra, La Cuarto Tango, Braziliance, Herb Ellis, John Stowell, Nancy King, Richie Cole, James Williams, and Teddy Edwards. He leads his own combo, “Calypso Magic” performing in configurations from solo to sextet.

In his spare time, Skip is a published travel writer and photographer for national magazines, scuba diver, and guest lecturer in elementary and high schools.