DAY GIG After working for 30 years managing a large computer firm, followed by three years as H.R. director for an environmental consulting firm, I’m now semi-retired, working part time as a keyboard consultant at my local music store.

HOW I GOT STARTED I started piano at a very early age, but music never really clicked for me until my parents bought a Hammond M-3 organ. This was about the same time I began to hear organ in rock on the radio, and I was hooked.

BAND Toronto’s 11STEPS has been a ’70s classic rock cover band for close to six years. In early 2007, we began an all-original CD, with the intention of creating “ageless classic rock.” It’s just been released on CDBaby.com, and been described as Styx meets Deep Purple with a hint of Santana.

INFLUENCES My greatest influence was Gregg Rolie of Santana. From the moment I heard him playing a Hammond, I had to have one. I loved the way Santana blended wonderful rhythms with beautiful melodies. My other influences were more prog: ELP, Yes, and Deep Purple. Now, as a more mature musician, I appreciate simpler music.

LIVE RIG My go-to keyboard is a double-manual Nord C1, which controls a Roland SonicCell placed on top. I also use a new Roland KC-880 keyboard amp, which doubles as a bench on really tight stages! After years of moving a Hammond B-3, my back is messed up, but I love the 40-pound C1/SonicCell combo.

WHY I PLAY At age 54, you might wonder why I’m still interested in putting in hundreds of hours to create an original CD, or continue to drag equipment in and out of my basement every weekend. The answer is that I love music, I love the guys that I perform with, and I love sharing that with people who appreciate my passion.

MORE AT myspace.com/11stepsband