Lakewood, Reverend, Gibson, Fender Guitars, Basses, and Mandolin

I come from a long line of Norwegians.  My dad toured the frozen north in a dance band in the 1930's and loved to brag about the night he made six dollars.  I grew up in Oklee, MN.  I took an early obsession with music and never could quite figure out how to let go. I too, toured the frozen northland in various dance bands for many years, honing my skills.  I love to brag about my first gig in 1965, at which I made seven dollars.

In 1981, after convincing myself that I was a big deal, I moved to Nashville and got a job as a waiter.  As we all know, good things come to those who wait.  So it wasn't long until I auditioned for and got a gig playing bass on the road with Gail Davies.  For the next several years I toured with Gail and also with Vince Gill, Kathy Mattea, Poco, Michael Johnson, Nicolette Larson, Gary Morris, Dickey Betts, The O'Kanes and others.

In 1989, through my work with Michael Johnson, I met producer Brent Maher.  Brent was looking for a band to work with at the time, and he liked the sound of Michael's road band.  This was the beginning of the group Great Plains.

With the encouragement of Brent Maher and Dianna Maher, I threw myself into the writing of the self titled Great Plains CD, released in 1992 on Columbia.  I wrote or co-wrote all ten tracks, including the hit single "Faster Gun (with Gary Burr).  In 1996, Great Plains released "Homeland" on Magnatone Records, also featuring ten of my songs including the title track (co-written with Keith Miles) which was named Farm Song of the Year in 1996 by The Farm Journal (the award was shared with Billy Montana's Clean Mind and Dirty Hands).

Also in 1996, along with Michael Johnson, I wrote "Cain's Blood", the debut hit for 4Runner.

In 1998, my song (co-written with Craig Bickhardt) "It Must Be Love", recorded by Ty Herndon, went all the way to NUMBER ONE on the country charts.

I continue to write and perform (with Poco and in songwriter showcases.).  I love to travel, read, compute, and walk.  Sue and I live in East Nashville with a pack of stray dogs.

(Co-writer), recording artist
"A Dream That Never Sleeps" (Walt Aldridge), Great Plains
"A Picture of You" (Gary Burr), Great Plains
"Cain's Blood" (Michael Johnson), 4Runner
"Cain's Blood", The Persuasions
"Cain's Blood", Lonnie Knight
"Cain's Blood", Michael Johnson
"Coyote Choir" (Lee Domann), Great Plains
"Dancin' With The Wind" (Craig Bickhardt), Great Plains
"Faster Gun" (Gary Burr), Great Plains
"Father's Day" (Craig Bickhardt/Helen Darling), Helen Darling
"Garden Wall" (Craig Bickhardt/Kip Lennon), Venice
"Give It Some Time", Great Plains
"Healin' Hands" (Chuck Cannon), Great Plains
"Homeland" (Keith Miles), Kenny Rogers
"Homeland", Great Plains
"I Can't Fight It Anymore", Great Plains
"I'd Move Heaven And Earth" (Craig Bickhardt), Ty Herndon
"I Wish You Were Here" (Bob Corbin), Helen Darling
"Iola" (Keith Miles/Sue Braswell), Great Plains
"It Must Be Love" (Craig Bickhardt), # 1 Country Single, Ty Herndon
"Let's Talk About Love" (Brent Maher/Lex Browning), Great Plains
"Love Is A Serious Thing" (Neil Thrasher), Ricochet
"Lyin' To My Heart" (Craig Bickhardt/Brent Maher), Jenai
"Make A Dance" Of Everything You Do (Todd Cerney), The Kendalls
"Momma Don't Ask" (Craig Bickhardt/Brent Maher), Jenai
"Never Get Enough" (Craig Bickhardt/David James), Poco
"Never Loved... Never Hurt Like This", Poco
"Nothin' I Can Do About The Rain" (Craig Bickhardt), Great Plains
"Please Don't Walk Away" (Chuck Jones), Great Plains
"Oh Sweetness", Great Plains
"Rich Man", Great Plains
"Rodeo Drive" (Gary Burr), Great Plains
"Runnin' From The Rain" (Brent Maher), Great Plains
"Sentimental Fire", Great Plains
"Shake It", Poco
"Sleepwalkin'" (Brent Maher), Great Plains
"So Bad" (Craig Bickhardt/Kip Lennon/Michael Lennon), Venice
"So Bad", Marshall Dyllon
"Take Me To Topeka" (Brent Maher/Kostas), Great Plains
"Talk About Love" (Carl Struck), The Judds
"Thrive" (Craig Bickhardt/Helen Darling), Helen Darling
"The Blues Don't Stand A Chance" (Gary Burr), The Forrester Sisters
"Where's The Fire" (Gary Scruggs), Great Plains

Poco

Beatles, Ray Charles, Jackson Browne

John Mayer, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, The Beatles, Poco

"Smooth highs, ringing lows... and the tone just keeps on going and going... You just don't need any other strings!"