BORN: Plattsburg, New York, May 21, 1954 (young--see Gene's birthday)

RAISED: Eldest of six siblings brought up in a one-room cabin in the wilderness (the siblings part is true but not the cabin part)

DAY JOB: Sociology professor and associate dean (true)

FAMILY: 
Two grown sons (both are pretty good guitar players who may some day be ready to move up to banjo)

FAVORITE BOOKS:
Too many to list (but no abridged editions or books on CD)

FAVORITE MOVIES:
Forrest Gump, Being There, Roger and Me and other films that show how life is often not what it seems…

HEROES:
Members of the U.S. military, past and present (like my father)

MUSICAL INFLUENCES:
The Beatles, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, the rockers, the jazzers, Earl Scruggs and every banjo player I have ever heard.

FAVORITE MUSICIANS:
Jake Armerding, Taylor Armerding, Patti Casey, Colby Crehan, Jim DiSabito, Andy Greene, Kirk Lord, Paul Miller, and Gene White (all current or former members of the Bluegrass Gospel Project).

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS:
was once a ski instructor at Stowe VT (true), likes to take long motorcycle trips (accurate), is well known as a snazzy dresser (probably not true)