I started playing clarinet in fifth grade and took private lessons from a guy who played with the Italian Opera Company in Rome before coming to America. In high school I added tenor and baritone saxes to my list of instruments. After graduation I spent four years of active duty with various US Marine Corps bands playing flute and piccolo. Yes, I did the piccolo solo on the final chorus of the march "Stars & Stripes Forever". While on my 18 month tour of service in Japan, I taught myself to play upright bass so we could form a jazz trio. I've been playing bass ever since and added the electric bass just a few years ago when I did some work with a blues band. Now besides freelancing as a jazz bassist I write jazz tunes and arrange jazz charts for an eight piece little big band.

When living in Salt Lake City I saw the group "Chicago" in concert. That was over 35 years ago. They were great. I've also caught live concerts of Billy Joel, Gloria Estefan, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and attended the Newport Jazz Festival .

I have a 75+ year old 3/4 German plywood acoustic bass made by G.A. Pfretzchner which is my favorite since I bought it over 45 years ago. I have three bass guitars i.e. a Carvin LB20; a Fender American made precision bass, and a Fender Squire practice instrument.

In high school I got started listening to jazz. The first two records I own and wore out playing them were John Coltrane's "Blue Train" (East Coast Jazz) and Shorty Roger's "Wherever The Five Winds Blow" (West Coast Jazz).

I mainly play with jazz groups. I started on own band in high school called the "Frank Kay Quintet". Did four years with the US Marine Corps bands. Then worked the New Jersey mafia clubs with the Joe Rocco Trio and the Toni Dano Quartet. When I finally got to Florida some 20+ years ago I started "The Generation Gap" band with my long time friend from high school, Larry Troise, and our two sons. After five successful years of playing and recording with that group I started freelancing and working with the trios of David Holley, Bob Fraioli, Linda Cole, Gus Simms, Don Durkee, Bill Doyle, Ralph Martin, Phil Reed, Jack Pierson and Jim Murphy.