As the newest member of New Harmony, A.J. brings his own style of banjo playing, finger-style guitar and occasional bass vocals to the band.

A.J. grew up in a small suburb of Chicago Illinois.  At a young age,  A.J. was fascinated by Earl Scruggs' Banjo playing on "The Beverly Hillbillys" TV show.

"I was blown away by the stream of notes coming from that thing !  I didn't know much about the banjo or even that it had a high short string on top.  My dad really wanted me to play guitar and he got me some lessons but my heart wasn't really in it.  I pretty much gave up on music altogether"

When A.J. was in the Marine Corps he bought his first banjo and learned to play a little, by listening to "big CD's, you know, the 33rpm ones (LOL) "

A.J. and his wife Barb met in the Marine Corps.  "I was an Air Intercept Controller for F-4 Phantoms and A-6E Intruder aircraft.  Barb was a Woman Marine assigned to one of the squadrons I controlled."

A.J. and Barb have two fantastic daughters, Elizabeth and Jennifer, and two awesome granddaughters, Hailey and Emily.

After his stint in the Marines, A.J. became a police officer and gave up music for a long time.  "There just didn't seem to be enough time for music with raising a family and pursuing my law enforcement career"

In 1989,  A.J. and his family moved to Indiana.   In 1994,  Barb introduced A.J. to Ike Bacon who she had met in a local coffee shop.  Ike played bass with a bluegrass band called The Bluegrass Connection.  "Ike came over to the house to talk bluegrass one day.  I told him that I hadn't played in about seventeen years or so.  He asked to see my banjo and when I took it out of the case, I discovered it was pretty much destroyed by our moving and not playing etc.  I credit Ike for sparking my interest in bluegrass again.  He is a great friend and bluegrass mentor."  At Ike's urging, A.J. got into banjo playing again and they formed a band called Off N' Runnin'. 

A.J.'s favorite banjo player is Scott Vestal.  Although A.J. likes to listen to the more progressive players, he has great respect for traditional styles as well.

"I met the guys in New Harmony about five years ago.  Don, Rick, Tim, Clint, Danny and Rick were the best midwest band I'd ever heard.   It was a dream come true when New Harmony made me their newest member !  I'm so excited and feel extremely lucky.  They are a great bunch of guys !" 

A.J. is a Deputy Sheriff by trade.  He is also a Commercial Helicopter and Airplane Pilot.  When he's not working, A.J. enjoys flying, fishing, woodworking, shooting and of course PLAYING THE BANJO !

Email A.J. at  mailto:aja@newharmonyband.com