Matt started playing music while still in diapers. There are a few old family pics of him in the kitchen pounding on pots and pans with wooden spoons and a grin from ear to ear. So, needless to say, Music was going to be a part of his life even if it meant breaking every Pot, Pan and Spoon in the house.
5th Grade came along and Matt got his start playing Percussion in the School Band and Orchestra. However, it didn't last long as just pounding on a Cow Bell isn't quite exciting enough for the kid who wants to be Animal from the Muppets. A year or two down the road, Matt got his first guitar and instantly became obsessed with it.
Before you know it, Matt was a Senior in High School, writing full albums of material, winning Local Battle of the Bands, making Award Winning Videos in the Telecommunications department and showing a real knack for anything Multimedia related. It was at this time, Junkyard Productions was conceived. Through college, Matt focused on other instruments like Bass, Drum Kit and Vocals. After earning his degree in Music Business from Columbia College in Chicago, and emerging into an extremely volatile industry due to the rapidly expanding Digital Technology implemented in both Recording Studios and Internet Distribution, Matt decided to take a full time job at The Music Gallery in Highland Park,
( www.musicgalleryinc.com ) Illinois as the webmaster for the stores site. This job demanded an entirely new skill set be developed in order to keep up with the competition all the while nurturing his G.A.S. (that’s Gear Acquisition Syndrome).It was at the same time that Matt purchased the guts of what has now become Junkyard Studios… A Protools based, computer recording system with up to 48 Audio Tracks and infinite MIDI programming capabilities. After doing countless projects of his own to hone his production and mixing skills, Matt’s first official Junkyard Records Production is the ‘Fire Past the Throne’ 3 Song Demo. This project was a summation of years of Matt’s work, as the band members were/are students of his that, after some suggesting, decided to start working together. The band is still together, writing new material and playing gigs. Check them out at www.myspace.com/firepastthethrone
After that, the local Blue Grass band, ‘Lost In Song’ hired Matt record/mix/produce their 7 song demo, used for getting gigs. He also worked with L.I.S. member Marian McNair ( marianmcnair.com )and her Jazz Duet to create a demo for the same purposes. Matt has worked on countless songs for Artist X, collaborated with numerous local players, and helped develop many of his students original songs. His collaborations with friend and coworker Aaron Davison have yielded several songs that have been picked up by a publishing company and a handful of Matt’s’ works are available for download on Itunes. He has also been doing freelance work for local musicians who need drum tracks, midi sequences, or a utility musician.
Currently Matt is playing Drums for ’Rally Day' and fronting ‘The Girthtones,’ an Original/Cover band that is working on their first full length record in Junkyard Studios. Produced by Matt, of course, with help from his band mates and his intern. His college band, 'Blue Smock Nancy' also has a Myspace page and their material is available on Itunes. Matt's passion for working with other musicians is clearly apparent and his dedication towards projects is unrivaled. Most clients end up considering him the 5th member, the guy to call when one of your guys is unable to make a gig.
He recently consulted with David Miller & Gorton Community Center with one of their Summer 2007 productions, concerning their sound system. In Winter 2006, Matt was asked to come teach several classes at Lake Forest High School about implementing Compressors properly into their Auditorium Sound System. He has taught at Lake Forest Country Day School in their Music Department with over 12 weeks of Substitution experience. Matt has also taught well over 5000 private, in home Guitar Lessons on the North Shore and wrote the music program currently in use at the Music Gallery of Highland Park, Illinois. He also compiled, edited and Mastered the accompanying CD. All the while web mastering their web site with well over 1 million hits per year for 3 years running. Matt considers himself an under employed workaholic known for putting in 70 hour weeks when necessary. If you want 1000 different jobs done fast, affordably, and correctly, Matt's your guy.
