Club gigs as a teenager in East LA dance bands led to tours with Mary Wells (My Guy, Two Lovers, You Beat Me to the Punch), Brenton Wood (Oogum Boogum Song, Gimme Some Kinda Sign), The Drifters (On Broadway, Save the Last Dance For Me, Under the Boardwalk), Rosie and The Originals (Angel Baby), Richard Berry (Louie, Louie), and many other early rock and R&B acts.

Played Hollywood Punk-era clubs with The Sheiks of Shake, sharing bills with Albert King, Clifton Chenier, Sparks, Captain Beefheart, and Billy Idol.

Toured the US with Latin folk band Sabia, performing on bills with Pete Seeger, Jesse Ed Davis, Bonnie Raitt. Recorded album Portavo for Flying Fish Records and appeared on Studs Terkel's Radio Show.

Freelanced in Los Angeles, numerous sessions, including Mazzy Star albums She Hangs Brightly for Rough Trade Records and So Tonight That I May See for Capitol Records. Numerous country bar gigs with Dale Watson, Will Ray (Hellecasters), Eddie Dean, Cliffie Stone, among others. Many gigs featured members of Dwight Yoakum, Kelly Willis & Lucinda Williams bands.

Relocated to SF Bay Area in 1991 and performed and recorded with Susan James, Hal Marcus, Mike Zapruder, Nearly Beloved, Brad Soules, Bob Freedman, Jeffrey Halford, Dallis Craft, Chris Molla, Amy Meyers, Jesse DeNatale, Walmart/3 of Hearts, Craig Nuttycombe, Tom Heyman, Chuck Prophet, Erika Luckett, Slim, Justin Dillon, Sonny Smith, Shana Morrison, Patty and Abigail, Stefanie Naifeh, Tony Goldmark, Henry Salvia, Crooked Roads, Victor Krummenacher, and The Cinders.

Live performances include tours with Jeffrey Halford, Patrick Conway, Shana Morrison, Earl Thomas, Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne, Maria Muldaur.

Local shows with Bob Weir, Henry Kaiser, Elvin Bishop, Tracy Nelson, Dr. Elmo, East of Eden, Brenda Boykin, Amy Meyers, Jules Broussard, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Huey Lewis, Ron Thompson, Alvon Johnson, Phil Guy, 'Mighty' Mike Schermer, Tom Heyman, The Ruby Rakes, Daniel Castro, Marshall Chapman, Tom Armstrong, Jessie Turner, Angela Strehli, Dallis Craft, Shana Morrison, Erika Luckett, Lisa Kindred, Denny Geyer, Loralee Christensen, Jesse DeNatale, Red Archibald, Big Bang Beat, Jonathon Richman, Dave Martin's House Party, Doug Adams, Blind Lemon Phillips, Michael McNevin, Austin DeLone, Earl Thomas, Jan Fanucchi, Mike Peloquin, Mitch Woods, Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne, Carl Weathersby, Willy Jordan, Tom Heyman, Maria Muldaur, and Augie Meyers.

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