Winter 1982:  GCP begins to feel at home on his grandmother's upright piano, but strikes out when he takes a small plastic baseball bat to the keys, thinking he will be a better player for it, and chips off the ends of many of the eighty-eight keys.  To date, he has not lived down the story.

Summer 1985:  GCP takes a ride on an inflatable watercraft on Fish Trap Lake.  The experience will obviously have a shattering effect on his musical career.  The following year, Berklee College of Music graduate Bruce Hornsby would release his RCA debut "The Way It Is" to a receptive audience, and win himself a Grammy for Best New Artist.

Winter 1986: GCP borrows his grandmother's vinyl copy of the soundtrack to "The Pink Panther", complementing his love for the beatnik cartoon of the same name. As the lush orchestral arrangements of Henry Mancini (a man dubbed "the heppest of cats" by Audrey Hepburn) tributarially wend their way into his then-undeveloped musical lexicon, GCP approaches the upcoming season of lessons and recitals armed with a taste of some very cool music.

August 1987:  GCP begins official music lessons with Lee Rae Reese, working on classical compositions out of the Bastien children's series.  Unfortunately, GCP's ear gets in the way, preventing him from actually reading the music.  The deception continues for two years, at which point all hope is lost for GCP.  After all, you can't be a musician and not read music, can you?

April 1988: GCP receives, on his tenth birthday, a Sega Master System, which--subconsciously--DOES have a shattering effect on his musical career. As the introductory concepts of music theory have begun working their way into his pre-adolescent brain, the constant, prolonged and repetitious exposure to looped Japanese MIDI samples, churned out in the guise of "Alex Kidd In Miracle World" and "Teddy Boy" (and the chords, melody, timbre and rhythm therein) is slowly but surely undergoing complex analysis, and having an irreversible influence on GCP's style of choice.

April 1989:  GCP receives, on his eleventh birthday, a Yamaha PSS-680 synthesizer.  It was originally chosen because of an electronically-intriguing demo, to showcase the synth's vast capabilities.  The synth also features an on-board sequencer, and GCP creates his first compositions, primitive though they are.

September 1989:  GCP disproves Reese's theory upon first lesson with Dr. Gerald Fields.  Fields presents to GCP a series of cards with phrases printed upon them.  GCP is to memorize the phrases and apply them to his piano playing.  The phrases are verbose and slightly unintelligible for the eleven-year-old's palate.  That same year, Jack Nicholson assaults Michael Keaton with verbose, unintelligible phrases in Warner Bros. "Batman".  GCP collaborates with long-time friends James Buffington and Eric Hedberg on a similar series of adventures.  To date, they have not lived down these stories.

September 1992:  GCP continues instruction through school under Dr. Lance Strickland.  During this time, Strickland introduces many of the concepts of jazz to GCP in his Jazz Lab program.  GCP develops an affinity for Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson, while also diving into modern grunge (but only a little).

Winter 1994:  GCP joins the white-funk musical collaboration the Saltines, thereby joining his first official band.  This happens only weeks after GCP purchases his first real keyboard, a Roland JV-35.  The band features Yoni Reinharz on guitar, Hans Martenson on bass, Brent Bryan on drums, Rodney Olson on lead guitar, GCP on keyboards and Hammond organ, Jeremy Golnick and Dan Cohen on saxophones, and Jesse Remington on guitar.  Several other members come and go during GCP's tenure, contributing their talents on the rain stick and other schtick.  The band plays several gigs, composes an impressive number of original songs, before GCP leaves the band for academic reasons.  The band hires a new lead singer/keyboardist, and changes the name to Apollo's Creed.  That same winter, GCP is exposed to the music of Dave Grusin, which will undoubtedly have a shattering effect on his musical career.

Spring 1995:  After receiving direction from fellow keyboardist and St. Louis Park graduate Darin Goulet, GCP pursues employment at ComedySportz in Minneapolis.  Current keyboardist Todd Price shows GCP the ropes, and helps him become familiar with "fast-paced comedy games".  During this time, GCP is forced to hone his chops on showtunes, a subject which, for some strange reason, always was a favorite.  Soon, GCP is singing "The Greatest American Hero" in his sleep, and dazzling (okay, bewildering) friends with a "name that tune"-type game with obscure TV themes such as "Maude", "Josie And The Pussycats", and "The Name Of The Game" (a theme composed by GCP influence Dave Grusin).  ComedySportz, under the management of Steve Roath, proves to be a lucrative experience, both musically and financially.

Summer 1995:  GCP ponies up and plunks down $66 for the Steely Dan boxed set "Citizen Steely Dan: 1972-1980", after having heard only two songs by the band ("Don't Take Me Alive" and "Doctor Wu").  He is immediately fascinated--yes, obsessed--with the band.  As his grunge-loving classmates attempt to figure out his passionate affinity for the Dan's jazzy chops, GCP continues to write more music, based on this new sound.  As he delves deeper into the boxed set, he stumbles over complex tracks from the "Aja" album and becomes obsessed again in trying to figure them out.  It is during this time that "classic rock", in general, becomes the main focus and influence of GCP's music.  Whether it be the tripped-out organ figures of the Doors' Ray Manzarek, the epic proportions of Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, the Fender Rhodes sound of the Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald, or the piano expressions of Billy Joel, GCP had left himself wide open for influence, and the ones he listened to were not taking it easy on him.

Spring 1996:  GCP escapes St. Louis Park High School via graduation, and continues to compose songs.  He takes part in leading the junior high ministry at his church, and prepares for the big move to St. Louis, Missouri, for college in the fall.

August 4, 1996: GCP, along with his parents, cross-country coach Jeff Gullord, and family friend Chip Sharratt, attends the Steely Dan Art Crimes '96 concert at the Target Center (click here for setlist). The experience leaves GCP breathless and voiceless as his current musical heroes jam their tails off onstage. Guest musicians include keyboardist John Beasley and guitarist Wayne Krantz. Now, GCP claims, he's ready for college.

Late August 1996:  GCP arrives at Webster University to pursue a major in Jazz Studies with emphasis in Music Technology.  He begins tutelage under Webster professors Steve Schenkel, Paul DeMarinis, Kim Portnoy, Glen Bauer, and receives piano instruction from jazz composer/performer Carolbeth True.  GCP's roommate, Ryan McCall, is a piano player as well, and the two hit it off by performing a rendition of Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is", released some ten years before.  GCP also meets seminary student Rich Good, who proves to be a spiritual provider and friend.  GCP and Good meet regularly throughout the year.

October 1996:  Webster student Tim Hook moves in with student Matt Edelstein, and GCP frequents their room to play Edelstein's Nintendo64, released that year.  They also watch many episodes of "Seinfeld". The first floor of Maria Hall, on which GCP lives, decorates the hall with black lights and fake cobwebs, using liquid laundry detergent to write words on the walls which will appear under the black light.  The word "weed" is popular and is repeatedly written.

November 15, 1996:  Ryan McCall, Daren Wilburn, Jesse Scarborough, Jason LaPlant, and Craig Schuster (collectively, Cannabis Moose) attend the Phish concert at the Kiel Center.  They return late that night, speaking wonders of the "walk-in bong".  John Popper of Blues Traveler puts in a surprise appearance at the concert, posing as Mean Mr. Mustard as Phish covers the Beatles song of the same name.  Unfortunately, GCP falls ill and is unable to attend.  He spends the remainder of the night quoting the movie "Tombstone".

January 17, 1997:  Ryan Hanlon, Chris Brudzinski, Tim Hook, Ryan McCall and GCP begin the videotaping of "Fahrenheit 151", a student-project-turned-incrimination of several college students in room 151 of Maria Hall.  The first segment proves to be a riotous experience, fueled by Dave Matthews and Rolling Rock, but when the second segment is attempted a week later, gastrointestinal warfare ensues, and several members of the floor are subjected to sanctioning and mostaccioli.

May 1997:  GCP finishes out his freshman year of school with 57 songs composed over the course of the year--many of which will NEVER see the light of day.....

August 1997:  Upon his return to Webster University for his sophomore year of college, GCP meets Mary Beth Hascall, a junior pursuing a Political Science major.  The two begin a relationship fueled by long nights talking and the music of U2.  GCP also spends considerable time with Matt Edelstein, who has transferred to Washington University to pursue a pre-med major.

November 8, 1997:  GCP and MBH attend the U2 Popmart concert held at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis (click here for setlist).  The Irish band, who came onstage at one point in a giant lemon, dazzles the crowd with classics "Where The Streets Have No Name" and new songs such as "Discotheque".  MBH's feet go numb when the members of the band enter the stadium and are, at one point, not eight feet away from MBH and GCP.  Later that night, GCP and MBH meet up with Ryan Hanlon, Matt Edelstein, Ryan McCall, and others outside the stadium.  The experience will undoubtedly have a shattering effect on GCP's musical career.  Later that month, GCP takes employment at the Microcomputer Resource Center at Webster University.

February 1998:  GCP enters a darker period in his musical life.  Songs such as "Saturn Falls" and "Impasse" are born during this time.  The summer that follows proves to be one completely absent of any new written material, despite the acquisiton of a new half-rack synth, the Korg X5DR, which contains a piano sound which can be found on GCP's album.

Fall 1998:  GCP begins the fall of his junior year at Webster with an array of new music, influenced by Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel, Bruce Hornsby, and Joe Jackson, and spiritually fueled by God.  GCP shacks up with filmmaker Ken Calcaterra and opera singer Dominic Margaglione in a house on Webster's campus.  The songs "Cirrus Vision", "Sand", "Little Miss Halogen", and more are composed during the early portion of the year.  Under the influence of piano men such as Joel and Hornsby, GCP's music becomes much more piano-centric.  GCP also joins the St. Louis swing band Swing Cat Swing!, featuring Tim Pickering on vocals, Jimmy Manno on guitar, Ben Wheeler on bass, Eddie Collison on trumpet, Randy Dukes on saxophone, Adam Kopff on drums, Devon Barnes on female vocals, and GCP on keyboards.  SCS! performs various modern and classic swing tunes throughout the next year, playing gigs at clubs and privates parties in St. Louis and beyond.

February 1999:  Adam Kopff is replaced by Jeremy Flagg as the drummer for Swing Cat Swing!  The band records a demo in the basement studio of Greg Smith up in North County.

Summer 1999:  GCP is kicked out of Webster U's Village Houses for the summer, so that work may be done on the house.  He subsequently moves in with Tim Hook in University City, and continues to work at the computer labs, now renamed Academic Computing Services, as well as perform in the band.  During the summer, he checks out Bruce Hornsby at Mississippi Nights (click here for setlist), on tour promoting his "Spirit Trail" album released the previous October.  The experience is electrifying, and GCP's sense of appreciation for Hornsby only increases.  GCP dates Lindenwood University dance student Laura Pierce over the summer.  He returns home only twice, for his sister Amy's high school graduation, and for his parents' 25th wedding anniversary.  Both times, he brings home his Roland and Korg synths.

Fall 1999:  GCP moves back into the Village house for his senior year, only to find that work has not been completed, but continues to write songs nonetheless.  He is now living with filmmaker Nathan Grubb and audio major Tyson Schaffner.  During these days, songs such as "All I Got Left" and "The Other Half Of The Rent", which were written over the summer, are refined and mastered.  He also attends concerts by Carlos Santana and The Moody Blues with ACS co-workers John Eto and Nick Childress.  He also checks out the Dave Weckl Quintet at Blueberry Hill with bandmates Eddie Collison and Jeremy Flagg.  During this time, Swing Cat Swing! breaks up.

Christmas 1999:  GCP accompanies ACS co-workers John Eto and Adam Daugherty to the Kiel Center to see Billy Joel on the 2000 Years tour.  As with Hornsby, the experience is totally electric.  Joel is in rare form, vocals as strong as ever, and performing classics "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant", "My Life", and the acrobatic "Prelude/Angry Young Man" (click here for setlist).  GCP also writes a song with Schaffner for his family for Christmas.  The song embarrasses Schaffner, but is appreciated and loved by his family.  Schaffner would go on to chart on the Top 40 with the song. (yeah, right--we're still waiting....)

February 29, 2000: Steely Dan releases their first studio album in 20 years, entitled "Two Against Nature". The album features Donald Fagen and Walter Becker once again as the frontmen, backed up by a stunning group of musicians, and some stunning backup singers. Dan fans throughout the world go crazy, and GCP is right in there with them. Follow-up promotions include a taping and broadcast of PBS' "In The Spotlight" and VH1's "Storytellers". The band schedules a summer tour beginning in Japan, and eventually reaching the United States.

April 19, 2000: GCP and John Eto attend the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young CSNY2K concert at the Kiel Center in St. Louis (click here for setlist). As the final stop on their world tour, the four aging legends rock themselves ragged to an enthusiastic audience. GCP's suspicions that the ailing David Crosby might not live to make the late tour date are dispelled after his soulful rendition of "Almost Cut My Hair".

May 13, 2000: GCP is officially graduated from Webster University, amidst a furor of relatives and friends. During this time, a surprise encounter occurs between GCP and his old roommate, Ryan McCall. Shortly thereafter, GCP embarks on a week jaunt down to Lake Of The Ozarks, for a bit of R&R before returning to pursue the daily grind for the rest of his life.

May 20, 2000: After ten weeks of sporadic studio sessions, a plethora of dedication, and some pretty funky hours, GCP and Chris Brudzinski work their way towards the final mixdown of GCP's first CD, "On The Canal". After preserving the skin-kicking of drummer Jeremy Flagg, the deep thump of Justin DiCenzo's bass foundation, and brass supplementation by hornsmiths Eddie Collison (trumpet) and Randy Dukes (saxophone), eventually rounded out by the keys and vox of GCP, Brudzinski is officially made a graduate of Webster, and promptly retreats back to his native homeland of Chicago. GCP then begins production work on the CD, creating cover art and buying a boatload of blank CD-Rs.

June 24-25, 2000: Shortly after Brudzinski's pilgrimage to the Windy City, John Eto, Dan Ayres, Debbie Lennon and GCP trek up to Chicago for two of the summer's hottest reunion tickets: Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature" tour (click here for setlist) on the 24th, and The Who (click here for setlist). After a crazy five-hour drive up to Chicago, GCP checks in with the others at the Midland Hotel, and begin scouring the city for food, nightlife, and whatever else people do in Chicago.

October 31, 2000: GCP and Katie Martin check out The Rippingtons at the Pageant in St. Louis (click here for setlist). The band, which has influenced GCP's music heavily, plays a smoking set to an eager St. Louis crowd. Afterward, Russ Freeman (guitarist), Paul Taylor (saxophonist) and Kim Stone (bassist) sign autographs, and Russ takes pictures of his fans. Several weeks later, GCP and Martin's likenesses grace the Rippingtons' Fan Page (click here to see).

December 6, 2000: GCP and John Eto attend the Joe Jackson concert at the Sheldon (click here for setlist). Backed by drummer Robert Rodriguez, bassist Graham Maby, percussionist Sue Hadjopolous, cellist Catherine Bent, violinist Alison Cornell, and keyboardist Andy Ezrin, Jackson wows the intimate 700-seat theater crowd with old and new tunes. Afterwards, Eto and GCP wait out back, and intercept everyone except Jackson, and pester the band into giving them autographs.

January 2001: GCP and Grace Church music director Scott Jones collaborate on a Grace instrumental, based loosely on Steely Dan's "Jack Of Speed": a modification of "We Will Worship The Lamb". The song even concludes with a quote from the intro to "Josie". (During the third service, although it provides a clean ending for the recording, there is strangely no applause.)

May 15, 2001: GCP jets back to Minneapolis to check out the Piano Man and the Rocket Man in concert at the Target Center. After a mid-evening bit to eat at a local bistro, along with a few beverages of dubious origin and a couple of chicken something-or-others, GCP and Mom brave the crossing of First Avenue to the home of the Timberwolves and take a pair of mediocre seats. It is GCP's second time seeing Billy Joel, and Mom's second time seeing Elton John, but the concert is satisfyingly lengthy (click here for setlist).

September 11, 2001: In the early morning hours, Scott Jones calls GCP and tells him to turn on the TV. What follows over the next few hours changes the face of America forever. Two hijacked airliners crash into the World Trade Center in New York City, which later collapse, claiming thousands of lives. Another airliner strikes the Pentagon, and another crashes into a field in Pennsylvania. In the midst of everything, the event will have a shattering effect on GCP's musical career.

September 29, 2001: GCP and Lindsey Byrnes attend the Guess Who concert at Riverport Amphitheatre, which finds the Canadian writers of "American Woman" reuniting with the original lead singer, Burton Cummings. During the course of the concert, Cummings addresses the unavoidable recent occurrences in the American scope, and applauds America as the country that "has been bailing out the rest of the world". Veteran soul rocker Joe Cocker opens the show (click here for setlist). God bless America, gents. Fine show.

October 26, 2001: GCP participates in the United To Remember benefit concert at Grace Church St. Louis. GCP plays the Korg Triton, accompanied by the regular players at Grace, and the crew delivers a slamming performance to an enthusiastic crowd. Later, GCP designs and develops album artwork for the subsequent CD and cassette, due on December 14. (For more info on this philanthropic musical adventure, we invite you to peruse Scott Jones' website for a dazzling array of soundclips from the event. Peruse on!)

November 28, 2001: GCP and longtime U2 fan Matt Edelstein plunk down a considerable amount of money to catch U2 on the tail end of their "Elevation" tour, performed at the Savvis Center in St. Louis (click here for setlist). With Garbage as their opening act, U2 puts on the fantastic show they always do, attempting to part from their distant stadium-rock roots, and return to an "intimate" environment. They also invite two fans from the general admission floor onstage to accompany them on "Knockin' On Heaven's Door". As the evening builds to climax, the Irish rockers drop two towering banners from the ceiling of the Savvis Center, and begin displaying the names of the victims from the September 11th tragedy in scrolling fashion. In a strangely prophetic manner, U2 then perform a tribute set, including the song "New York", written a year before the terrorist attack. In their own way, U2 manages to be right there for the world when disaster descends. The crowd's reaction is what one might expect from such a tribute. Once again, fine job, lads.

December 16-27, 2001: GCP racks up extensive frequent flyer miles (and spends them summarily in the process) in an effort to pinpoint himself for a few different Christmas engagements. As has been his usual gig each year at this time, he returns home to snowy Minneapolis on a Northwest flight to don a tuxedo and tickle the ivories on a rented piano at the office of his father, GAP, for the week preceding Christmas. That Saturday morning, however, GCP boards another flight back down to STL to join the well-rehearsed and rhythmically-synchronized Grace worship team on drummer Mark Miller's freight-train arrangement of "The Little Drummer Boy", which, as many participants and attendees of the subsequent services will attest, historically raises the bar for the traditional song. This is performed thrice, at which point, GCP boards yet another flight back to Minneapolis on the morning of Christmas Eve to spend the holiday with his family. Life slows down for a couple of days, but on the 27th, GCP boards the fourth and final flight back down to St. Louis, where he promptly collapses following a loud exhale.

December 31, 2001: In the wake of a wedding the night before, GCP falls asleep at an embarassingly early hour, and sleeps through the new year.

January 8, 2002: GCP is hired on--spontaneously--at Siboney Learning Group, a children's educational software development company. After doing a handful of freelance voiceover projects for the company, GCP is surprised to be offered a job on the spot. He accepts, and immediately channels his funding towards the purchase of a new iMac.

January 19, 2002: GCP and Lindsey Byrnes head over to Powell Symphony Hall for the Art Garfunkel concert. LB is a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel, and both are amazed by the fact that Art's voice is still as crystal-clear as it used to be. Preceding his performance is the Pops concert, in which guitarist Steve Schenkel and bassist Jay Hungerford. After the show, GCP and LB run into Art's keyboardists Warren Bernhardt and Ted Baker....both of whom also performed on Steely Dan's tours in 1993 and 2000, respectively.

February 16, 2002: Swing Cat Swing frontman Pick weds his new bride at the DeMenil Mansion in St. Louis. The band is reassembled (with singer Brad Carlson standing in for Pick) to play for the reception, with GCP and trumpeteer Eddie Collison performing during the ceremony. Pick is gracious in his thanks to everyone who attended, and then promptly takes off for their honeymoon in the Bahamas.

March 11, 2002: Scott Jones and GCP head down to the Pageant theater in the Delmar Loop to catch the Pat Metheny Group, hot on the release of their latest studio masterpiece, "Speaking Of Now". The ensemble, which includes Metheny on guitars, Lyle Mays on keyboards, Steve Rodby on bass, Antonio Sanchez on drums, Cuong Vu on trumpet and vocals, and Richard Bona on vocals and percussion, wows the audience from the first note with their customary brilliance. At one point, Bona stuns the crowd when he straps on a fretless bass, and plays along with Metheny on "Jaco", a tune which appeared on the Metheny Group's first album.

March 13, 2002: GCP's new iPod arrives, courtesy of Academic Computing Services. The new MP3 device comes in handy when the Heather Dawn Band plays later that night. Bill Elrod's CD player goes down right before the break, but the iPod, now fully stocked with Dave Grusin, is up and running in time.

March 16, 2002: GCP, John Eto and Michelle Backer descend into Blueberry Hill's Duck Room to see Edwin McCain perform live before a packed-in crowd. McCain is accompanied only by his sax/EWI player Craig Shields, and proves to be a fantastic raconteur as well as a gifted songwriter. Afterwards, GCP and Michelle hang around for autographs, and GCP sends the signed CD home to his sister.

March 20, 2002: GCP and Lindsey Byrnes head out to Sally T's in St. Charles (aka: the edge of the world) for the live show of Mark Sweetnam's band Without A Trace. GCP plays keys for the band as they face off against a rival band for air time on Midcoast Mania. The other band wins the popular vote, but Without A Trace wins on sound and talent.

May 18-19, 2002: Grace Church holds their giant Connecting Grace fundraiser, code-named "The Big Event", which will generate revenue for the $10 million expansion/addition of the church. GCP takes his position at the Korg Triton with the rest of the Grace band, as well as a full horn section. Before the services, guitar duo Dan Rubright and Steve Schenkel perform outdoors under the tents where the lunches are served. The video "Vision: Possible" features several members of the Grace community acting out a pseudo-"Mission: Impossible" scenario.

May 19, 2002: GCP, Scott Jones and Michelle Backer descend once again into the Duck Room where the Dave Weckl Band is performing. The ensemble includes drummer Dave Weckl, saxophonist Brandon Fields, keyboardist Steve Weingart, and bassists Tom Kennedy and Hussain Jiffry. The new material performed by the band is later made available on their latest release, "Perpetual Motion".

June 1, 2002: GCP and Michelle Backer check out Harry Connick, Jr. at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. Connick, hot on the heels of his latest release "Songs I Heard", brings his big band out blasting, and features guitarist Jonathan Dubose Jr. Connick dazzles with style to spare between performing new renditions of classic movie songs and taunting audience member Cedric the Entertainer. Afterwards, Connick appeases an obedient following by signing over 200 autographs.

June 19, 2002: GCP, Gary Fiorino and Doug Flagg migrate from their normal stomping grounds at Grace Church over to north St. Louis and the Lively Stone Church of God. Fiorino, who grew up in the Pentecostal faith, has been asked to perform a piece honoring one of the music directors at Lively Stone. Fiorino asks GCP and Flagg to accompany him as he takes a seat at the Hammond B3 organ in the balcony. Fiorino, who already has a reputation as a pianist of the finest caliber, transforms into a different animal on the organ. Ranking as one of Fiorino's favorite experiences, the three perform "Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour", with GCP on keyboards and Flagg on drums. Afterwards, the three end up at Applebee's on St. Charles Rock Road, to marinate in the afterglow.

July 31, 2002: The Heather Dawn Band piles into the basement studio of local keyboardist/engineer Pete Ruthenberg to record the five-song demo to distribute to agents and venues. In a matter of a few hours, the band knocks out "Satin Doll", "Lady Marmalade", "Boogie Oogie", "Breathe", and "Chain Of Fools", with Tommy Wilson on drums, Bill Elrod on sax, Scott Jones on guitar, Phil Burton on bass, Heather Dawn on vocals, and GCP on keys.

August 7, 2002: GCP and Michelle Backer head out to the UMB Bank Pavilion to catch Lenny Kravitz in concert. Having released his sixth studio album, "Lenny", earlier in the year, Kravitz' corresponding tour finds him back with his perennial cohorts.

August 13, 2002: Scott Jones, Bill Elrod, Phil Burton, Jeremy Flagg and GCP, under the moniker of Fictional Characters, enters Webster University's Music Annex building to record a live demo for the benefit of young drum phenom Tony Royster, Jr. For five hours, the musicians hole up in the room with their instruments and an iMac, laying the entire session down in ProTools. The completed 65-minute opus includes extended versions of the jazz standards "Footprints", "All Blues", "Blue Bossa", and an original free-form jam.

August 16, 2002: Gary Fiorino, Doug Flagg and GCP trek down to Destiny Church to catch the last night of the worship conference at which Doug's son, drummer Jeremy, is performing. The night features intense, charismatic worship, fronted by worship leader Kent Henry and pastor Phil Stern, and features a riveting message from visiting speaker Bob Sorge. The depth of worship, experienced for the first time by GCP, raises the bar for him in terms of his relationship with God and the ways to reach out to Him.

August 31, 2002: On the eve of September, John Eto, Christine Arteaga, Dave Gill and GCP occupy fourth-row seats to the double-header of Todd Rundgren and Hall & Oates at UMB Bank Pavilion. Rundgren, a personal favorite of GCP, is fantastically quirky (and quirkily fantastic) in his bizarre, underappreciated element, setting the stage for Daryl Hall and John Oates, whom he produced in the early days of their career. Hall & Oates, naturally, pull out all their hits, bringing Rundgren back on for their encore, and interweave each other's hits as they reach the conclusion.

September 2, 2002: GCP's friend and Fahrenheit 151 fraternity member Tim Hook packs it up and joins fellow frat brother Ryan Hanlon out in San Diego. This leaves GCP as the last member of the F151 frat to remain in St. Louis.

September 4, 2002: Swing Cat Swing congregates in the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill for one final gig before frontman Pick moves to Phoenix. Though GCP hasn't played with the group for some time, the songs are recalled quickly, and original members Jeremy Flagg and Ben Wheeler return to get in their last words under the Swing Cat Swing name. After the performance is over, GCP presents a retrospective DVD to each member of the band, containing home video footage shot in the early days of the band, along with the infamous Fox2 commercials and live appearance on the "Here's To St. Louis" program.

September 22, 2002: Guitarist Guy Danhoff marries Grace Church vocal team director Sheila Morrow in an intimate outdoor wedding, held in the backyard of Karl and Rhonda McAfee. The wedding is performed by Grace pastor Gary Taylor, and music is provided by Gary Fiorino on piano, as well as Guy's friend Roger on guitar. The weather is absolutely perfect for the occasion, and immediately following the ceremony, Doug Flagg's band, Collage, provides music for the reception.

October 9, 2002: GCP and Gary Fiorino beat it out of Grace Church on this Wednesday night to catch what they can of Paul McCartney's "Back In The U.S." tour at the Savvis Center. They arrive at the end of the opening act, just in time to see Sir Paul take the stage with his band, comprised of Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums, and Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on guitars. The concert ranks as THE personal favorite for GCP, simply from seeing one of the Beatles in the flesh, more or less. Though the seats are in the nosebleeds, the experience is still one of those that goes with a person to the end. The night is so amazing, in fact, that GCP convinces his parents to fly out of town to catch the last tour stop in Phoenix, AZ.

December 13-24, 2002: Following in the mold of the previous year's Christmas production, the Grace Tech team feels the need to outdo itself with a bigger and better holiday for 2002. Whereas last year's ensemble featured drums, this year's production features bells, to the tune of "Carol Of The Bells". Amazed at the scope and precision of the previous year's outcome, GCP jumps on board. However, several events mar this year's outing. At the onset (Friday the 13th), a piece of metal framing falls on GCP, giving him whiplash. Car trouble inhibits his travel to Grace for the nightly, epic rehearsals. And, in the middle of the week of the production, a flu epidemic tears through the tightly-packed band of bell ringers. Nevertheless, the team perseveres, albeit exhaustedly, to a successful conclusion. The following day, however, rehearsals begin for the Christmas Eve service. Though the service itself is beautiful, the snow is falling hard outside, and it has simply been too much for many people on board, including GCP. The holidays arrive, and GCP looks forward to chilling in Minneapolis with the family.

January 19, 2003: Gary Fiorino, Doug Flagg and GCP (The Apostle, The Bishop, and The Deacon, respectively) head out to Wentzville for The Apostle's 45th birthday celebration. Immediately following the morning church services, the three pile into Fiorino's Elantra, and cruise out to Big Boy, where they are treated to a huge family-style lunch, courtesy of Fiorino's parents, Joe and Dar. During the lunch, Michelle DeFabio presents the three with matching keychains reading "The Apostle", "The Bishop", and "Deacon Charlie", which the three will find interesting use for later on. After lunch, they head over to Joe and Dar's house for presents and cake.

February 2003: GCP begins considering options to pursue outside of St. Louis. There is thought of continuing education aimed at a degree in Music Therapy, as well as a more aggressive approach toward voiceovers.

February 8, 2003: GCP attends the Joshua's Men conference with Jeremy Flagg and Lee Clark. The conference is jam-packed with amazing spiritual content, which GCP feverishly writes down, presented by Joe Champion.

February 17, 2003: GCP performs with Jay Hungerford at Jay's faculty recital at Webster University. Jay is interested in exposing the Grace band to a more secular, academic audience, and succeeds by pulling out a handful of standards, as well as a couple of Scott's Grace instrumentals, duly performed by himself, Scott, Gary Fiorino, Mark Miller, Bill Elrod, and GCP.

February 28-March 3, 2003: GCP treks up to Chicago to visit Melissa Paslay, who has since ensconced herself in the colorful hamlet of Wrigleyville. Once there, they immediately seek out entertainment in the city. Upon checking the Internet, GCP is shocked and elated to discover that one of his earliest jazz influences, guitarist Henry Johnson, is playing at Pop's For Champagne, not ten blocks from Melissa's flat. They make reservations, hail a cab, and head on down. The show features more straight-ahead jazz, not the George-Benson-esque smooth style GCP had grown accustomed to. Nevertheless, the performance is excellent, and after the third set, GCP talks to Johnson at length about his influence on the young artist. In the absence of a CD to autograph, GCP and Johnson settle for a coaster. Later that weekend, GCP and Paslay take a trip into downtown Chicago on the "L" train, encountering some interesting characters as they pursue the summit of the Sears Tower.

March 27-April 1, 2003: GCP travels with his parents down to Fort Lauderdale, FL, where he spends a great deal of time journalling and reminiscing about the recent past and the aspirations of the future. The following Sunday, GCP and his dad GAP attend Calvary Chapel, an enormous non-denominational church in the Fort Lauderdale area.

April 5, 2003: GCP celebrates his 25th birthday with a host of friends at Krieger's, following a killer Saturday night church service. At Krieger's, he receives remarkably poor service, and fellow attendee Scott Jones informs the waiter that GCP's food will be free this particular evening. As the day has been littered with musical references, which continue on through dinner, GCP heads home, and stays up into the wee hours making a "25th Birthday CD", containing many of the songs referenced during the day.

April 10, 2003: GCP is visiting Dave Gill in Springfield, MO, when he receives a call from Superchic[k] guitarist Justin Sharbono. GCP's sister, Amy, is responsible for establishing this connection, and GCP is very eager to talk with Sharbono about his experience, and to arrange a possible time to work together. The conversation is excellent; however, things are left at "well, if you're ever back in the Minneapolis area..."

April 23-29, 2003: After a return call from Justin Sharbono a week later, inviting GCP to participate in a "Battle of the Bands" at the Christian club The New Union, GCP packs up his Jetta, and hauls back up to Minnesota to jam out. Sharbono is on hiatus from Superchic[k], performing with the Bethel University band Dry Bones Dancing, and has asked GCP to lend keys to the outfit. The band also invites professional drummer Paul Eckberg to hit. The band gives a good show, and ranks third out of six. During this weekend, GCP trades in his ailing Jetta for a new Honda Element, which rides a bit higher off the ground and sports ample hauling room in the back. Loading up for gigs will no longer be a problem.

May 23, 2003: After learning of the death of his friend Gus Hallman's father, Milt, GCP loads one-seventh of his apartment into his new Element, and cruises up to Minnesota to attend the funeral (after deciding to move back to Minneapolis). As it happens, his sister Amy's graduation from Bethel is also taking place that weekend, so the weekend is very busy.

June 10, 2003: The new Steely Dan album, "Everything Must Go", is released, much to GCP's delight. The disc receives healthy spinning in his Element's CD player, and is unleashed on Bill Elrod later that evening, following a spanking-of-a-gig featuring Elrod, bassist Phil Burton, and jazz guitarist Tom Byrne.

July 4, 2003: GCP hikes up to fellow keyster Kris Steller's home in St. Peter to light a few fireworks. GCP's hopes of lighting a couple of piddly bottlerockets are dashed when Danny Cunningham and Greg Stygar roll up with a bonafide arsenal of serious pyrotechnics, which provide wicked entertainment way, way into the night.

July 11, 2003: GCP fires up his iMac to find a folder with a blinking question mark in the place of the usual smiling Mac face. A phone call to his place of employment yields the dastardly news that serious damage has been done. Naturally, having never backed anything up, GCP quickly grabs the iMac by its neck, and brings it into Webster's ACS for emergency procedures. Resident Mac guru Dan Jacobs selflessly devotes three hours of his work day to operating on GCP's computer. After several methods, Jacobs finally restores GCP's computer to its former glory, and not-so-subtlely suggests that GCP back everything up as soon as possible. Several days later, a Borders gift card suspiciously shows up on Jacob's desk.

July 14, 2003: After spending the next couple of days backing everything up from his computer, GCP drives up to Florissant and jumps into Tim and Jessica Arnold's swimming pool to cool off. Mark McAllister, GCP's official Bio page accountability partner and friend of the Arnolds, is also present and chilling in the pool.

July 15, 2003: GCP heads over to the Fox Theater to check out Norah Jones, a show he labels "enchanting...not a word I use very often." Truly, the show is as relaxing as they come, with ace musicianship abounding, and Norah's buttery vocals simmering over the whole thing. Also perched, not surprisingly, in the second row, are John Eto and Katie Martin. After the show ends, Eto and Martin retreat to Cafe Eau at the Chase Park Plaza, and GCP waits around with infamous local celebrity Beatle Bob to get autographs from Jones. Later, GCP meets up with Eto and Martin at Eau with the autographed materials.

July 21-27, 2003: GCP's last week in St. Louis is frought with stressful packing (in the humidity and heat), trying to connect with as many people as possible, gigs, and finally, covertly lurking in his apartment for one last illegal night. With the car fully packed and the apartment finally cleaned, GCP slips out at 7:00am the next morning, drops the key in the mail slot of the office door, and steals away before anyone is the wiser.

July 28, 2003: GCP plays one last set of services with the Grace band during his initial tenure, concluding with a duet with Gary Fiorino, reprising their trademark "Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour". After the service, GCP heads over to Scott Jones' house with about fifty people from Grace, and once there, Scott presents GCP with his original audition notes at Grace, in a black frame. Later that night, GCP plays a balls-to-the-wall gig at Ethyl's in St. Peter with the Heather Dawn Band. At one point, Bill Elrod recounts when GCP tried to "out-alter" him at a previous gig, and engaged GCP in a showdown of altered solos. Eventually, knowing he cannot win, GCP encourages Elrod to keep blowing. The saxophonist obliges by going further and further outside the changes, after which GCP can only respond by announcing Elrod to the audience, which prompts supreme applause. The next day, GCP and his parents make the long trek back up to Minneapolis.

August 1, 2003: GCP heads down to the Xcel Energy Center to catch James Taylor in concert (click here for setlist). The show is phenomenal, and Taylor is in rare form. Guest musicians include guitarist Michael Landau, pianist Larry Goldings, and drummer Steve Gadd.

August 7, 2003: Less than a week after JT, GCP returns to the Xcel to see his third Steely Dan concert (click here for setlist). When the band opens with "Aja", GCP knows it's going to be a good show. SD's drummer, Keith Carlock, pulls out a furious solo on "Josie", and everyone is stunned to realize this is his first tour. After the show, GCP compares setlists with previous SD concerts, and realizes the band has played fewer and fewer songs with each subsequent tour.

August 21, 2003: GCP heads back down to St. Louis to cover for Gary Fiorino, who is on his honeymoon with his new bride, Michelle DeFabio-Fiorino. In the absence of work to be had in Minneapolis, and the offer coming at the optimum time, GCP packs it up for three weeks, and stays in the Jones' spare bedroom.

August 22, 2003: GCP and Guy Danhoff make an impromptu, but highly important trip up to Chicago. Danhoff calls GCP late the previous night, and asks if he can be ready in four hours. GCP agrees, and Danhoff swings by the Jones pad at 2:45 am. The long drive begins, ending five hours later outside the Lakeshore Athletic Club. GCP and Danhoff enter, and Danhoff begins his pitch to club manager David Neeser. A few hours later, Danhoff emerges victorious, having scored the deal, and he and GCP head from the club to Maggiano's Little Italy for lunch. After stuffing themselves, they head back down to St. Louis, just in time for Danhoff to play his mobster role in Grace's murder mystery.

August 24, 2003: GCP rides with Greg Stygar and three of his kids out to Raging Rivers in Illinois. They meet up with Dave and Shelly Gaddy, and Danny and Jody Cunningham, and spend the next several hours bombing down waterslides, staying afloat in the wave pool, and eating funnel cakes.

September 23, 2003: GCP assists builder Pete Bren on their new house out in Victoria, MN. As he is not a qualified subcontractor, GCP doesn't offer much, except the ability to sweep floors, and hand tools to the subs. During this season, he enjoys working with finish carpenters Bob and Jeff Neises, who excel in conversation, matched only by their mastery in woodworking.

October 2003: After Gary Fiorino pursues options outside of Grace Church, GCP is asked to assist the church in the interim. After deliberating for a week, GCP agrees to help out for four weeks. With the complexity of the building schedule, Grace agrees to fly GCP down and back each weekend for the four weeks.

October 6, 2003: GCP catches Switchfoot down at the Quest with fellow musicians Justin Sharbono, Elizabeth Hunnicutt, and Ryan Paul. Afterwards, the three bust over to Applebee's and close the place down.

October 13, 2003: GCP begins working with Elizabeth Hunnicutt on the album artwork for her upcoming five-song EP.

November 1, 2003: GCP attends the wedding of Mindy Howell and Matt Mierek. Unfortunately, the wedding is on a Saturday, and a great many people from Grace are unable to attend. However, the ceremony is gorgeous, and the reception is serious fun.

November 19, 2003: GCP drives down to Kansas City to play six nights at the Ameristar Casino with the Heather Dawn Band. This gig reunites GCP with the band, as well as Mark Miller, who drives from Nashville to play the gig. The members are put up at a Holiday Inn, down the road from the casino, and enjoy the smells of the dumpsters as they enter through the security gates. During these seven days, GCP and company partake of some particularly tasty casino food in the various restaurants, and head to the movie theater one night to catch Will Ferrell's "Elf".

December 2003: GCP plays piano at Opus for the week preceding Christmas, armed with a variety of new arrangements and orchestrations. After this gig concludes, GCP is hit with the nauseating reality that he is now officially unemployed, with no foreseeable gigs in the future.

January 4, 2004: GCP checks out Westwood Community Church in Chanhassen, MN, and finds his new church home. Additionally, music pastor Mark Nelson is eager to bring GCP onboard to lend his skills in the area of auxiliary keys.

January 20, 2004: GCP begins working part-time at The Marsh, a wellness center in Minnetonka, MN. Guest Services Team Lead Frank Chase trains him in, and he experiences working at all hours of the day, including the 5:30 am red-eye shift.

February 5, 2004: After learning of the imminent departure of administrative assistant Bobbie Haswell, GCP is offered the opportunity to work directly for Marsh owner and founder Ruth Stricker. GCP accepts, and begins training with Haswell the following day.

March 12, 2004: GCP heads down to the Fine Line with Justin Sharbono and his girlfriend Rebecca Klinski, to check out Owsley in concert. Drummer Paul Eckberg, who played with Sharbono and GCP the previous April, is touring with Owsley, and the show is killer. Owsley pulls out some of the most lyrical solos GCP has ever heard, and he does so with a brash sense of confidence that, once again, inspires GCP to get moving on his songwriting efforts.

April 16-24, 2004: GCP drives down to St. Louis to play keys for the musical "Godspell", being performed at Hazelwood Central High School in Florissant, MO. This concludes the longest stretch during which GCP has been away from St. Louis, since originally going there in 1996. The play is a total riot, and GCP has the opportunity to work with many very talented kids, reconnect with old friends, take tons of pictures, and enjoy the company of Tim and Jessica Arnold mere weeks before they are to become parents.

May 6, 2004: Natural and holistic health expert Dr. Andrew Weil visits Ruth Stricker at The Marsh, and speaks later that evening at the Hopkins Center for the Arts on heart disease. During the speaking engagement, Weil is tag-team grilled by two cardiologists, asking questions from the audience, and Weil has answers for each question without batting an eye.

May 15, 2004: GCP plays keys for the "Highly Exalted" spring concert at Westwood. In addition to a full choir and orchestra, saxophonist Kenni Holmen writes a screaming Latin instrumental version of "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love," performed ably by the well-rehearsed band. GCP's Marsh co-workers Katie Okochi and Barb Swanson are in attendance, and the three head over to Houlihan's afterward.

June 7, 2004: GCP aids in leading worship at the Upper Room, a holistic, experiential worship program held at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, MN. After attending many services and feeling sincere interest in getting involved, music leader Stefan Van Voorst calls GCP and invites him to play keys. GCP does so for the next many weeks during the summer, and is thoroughly blessed by the experience.

June 11-14, 2004: GCP flies out to New York City to visit Steve Silver, during his final days in Hoboken, NJ. During the visit, they walk all over Manhattan, visit Ground Zero, and sample the local fare. They also check out the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" in the theaters on opening day, and happen to meet star Jon Heder on the street just before the movie begins.

July 1, 2004: GCP takes Marsh co-workers Chris Amundsen, Kathy Lutz, Tim Mortenson, Frank Chase, Melanie McCall, Cece McCan, Jodi Sussner, and Arlene Robitshek on his pontoon boat. The crew cruises for a while, bound for Lord Fletcher's on Lake Minnetonka, and enjoy the light of the full moon on the way home.

August 4, 2004: GCP checks out Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis (click here for setlist). The show is incredible, especially since the two bands begin and end the show together, completely intertwined. They flip a coin, and EWF goes first. After intermission, the drummers from both bands square off, followed by Chicago's set, and finale and encore with both bands. GCP's voice is gone the next day.

The story is still being written, as are songs.  Keep checking-->as interesting things come up, rest assured they will arrive on this page.