The first record Dirk ever remembers hearing was Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line". "Johnny wears special pants to sing like that!" his dad told him. Dirk didn't understand at the time... Years later he and his father were watching the Bee Gees on Don Kirshner's rock concert, around 1972-1973. "I'll bet they sit down to pee!" his father remarked. "Gee, doesn't everyone?" Dirk thought to himself... Dirk's instrumental journey began with the violin at age 7, until he found out it was a good way to get beat up. He decided on a manlier approach and picked the biggest horn he could carry, a trombone. He and the trombone parted ways at age 11, when after being enthralled by his mother's record collection, which included the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Donovan, Cat Stevens, and more, he soon discovered there weren't many opportunities for trombonists. Though it made a fine weapon, he decided to switch to guitar, as his Mom had a Gibson jumbo body (no offense mom!) He and that Gibson became fast friends, and armed with some chords and yodeling instruction from his mother, he was on his way...

Some of Dirk's later influences as he grew up were Elton John, the Cars, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Aerosmith, the Scorpions, Ted Nugent, Cream, April Wine, Rick Derringer, and the list goes on. He hit the road right after graduation at age 17, and played professionally in the region for a decade or so while he nearly drank himself to death. At age 30 and sober, Dirk retired from the club scene to co-form the Christian hard rock group Soul Patrol, which had great local success as a ministry in the 90's. He is also a "record" producer and song writer and enjoys success in those areas as well.

As for his "out of retirement" experience with Save Lefty, Dirk says: "I tell everyone I accidently became a lounge singer, and I like it!" And his hair is finally back in style(?)...

You can see what I do during the day at iMpro!

My new music project is called "Big Hair Revolution", to visit the site click here!

I'm also in a 5 piece classic rock concert band, alotta fun! check 'em out at HotRodDeluxe.com

 please write me!