Justin has been playing the electric bass for 20+ years but has been interested in rock music since before he can remember. While other kids were learning nursery rhymes, Justin’s favorite songs were by the Who and the Beatles. At the age of 12, Justin became mesmerized by the electric bass and has had one within arm’s reach ever since. Not feeling quite fulfilled by the punk and metal bands that appealed to him in his youth, Justin eventually discovered classic hard rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath before segueing those bands funkier aspects into an interest in Funkadelic, The Meters, Tower of Power, and then landing even further back in time with the sounds of the Motown, Stax and Chess record labels.
In 2003, Justin graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Bass Performance. In addition to strengthening his comfort zone in Rock, Funk, Soul and R&B; Berklee also opened his ears to genres of Jazz, Latin, and Brazilian music.
As a performer, Justin has shared the stage with many of Hampton Roads’ finest musicians. Justin served a two year stint as bassist for the Jay Rakes Band, has performed a number gigs with swampy blues artist Billy Thompson, and many gigs as part of a trio with Luke Taylor and Jim Kolacek. Additionally, Justin has served as an in demand private instructor since 2003 as well as teaching at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts’ Jazz Band from 2005 to 2007.
Justin’s main concentration as a teacher is to help students of all levels and ages develop a strong musical foundation made up of the fundamental skills that will enable them to succeed and provide for them a lifetime of musical growth and exploration.