Biography

Born and raised in Texas, Matthew started playing organ at age 9. At age 13 he picked up his musician-father’s guitar and has been playing ever since. He began playing professionally at age 16 and went on to graduate magna cum laude from the prestigious University of North Texas School of Music.

EARLY INFLUENCES

Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, Ted Nugent, Jimi Hendrix, Rush, Pat Travers, Frank Marino, and later Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, and Allan Holdsworth.

FAVORITE EARLY MUSICAL MEMORY

"My older brother Rusty grew up and went to high school with Stevie Ray Vaughan in Oak Cliff. This was before Stevie dropped out and moved to Austin (coincidently Rusty moved to Austin soon thereafter). When I was still a young teenager, Rusty snuck me into a club called The Club Foot to see Stevie play. I had just heard the name, but hadn’t heard him play yet. It was a Monday night dollar night, and there were only about 50-60 people in the club. When we walked in, Stevie was playing “Third Stone From the Sun” and walking his guitar around the stage by the whammy bar. And it was still just the first set! That night I heard the most intense version of Voodoo Chile I have ever heard and probably ever will hear. Needless to say, Stevie’s intensity was a HUGE influence on me and how I approach the guitar...."

While residing in Dallas, Matthew played with such local artists as May Lee Thomas, The Molly Maguires, Debbie Babcock and the Dallas Heat, Filet of Soul, and Texas Flood (a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute). Shortly thereafter, Matthew moved to Los Angeles were he formed his critically acclaimed progressive rock band, Doctor M. It was then that he met Jack Russell, singer for the band Great White, and became guitarist for the Jack Russell Band. He wrote several tracks, including the title track, and played lead guitar on Russell’s solo album Shelter Me. Matthew also has a co-writing credit for the song “My World” and on Great White’s album Let It Rock.

Then, in January of 2000, Matthew accepted an invitation to assume lead guitar responsibilities for both U.S. and European tours of Great White. By the summer, after playing such shows as Loopfest 2000 in Chicago, with Styx, REO Speedwagon, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Eddie Money, the tour slowly came to an end, and Matthew decided to remain in L.A. to pursue the opportunities that were arising.

In 2002, Matthew took to the road with festival band Redbone, who had the gold single “Come and Get Your Love”.

Then, in February 2007, Matthew got a call that brought him full circle back to Texas. It was Patrice Pike. Patrice was the lead singer for Sister Seven (originally Little Sister), which had 4 studio albums out -- 2 of those on Arista, and she has another 3 as a solo artist, including her latest, "Unraveling". Patrice also appeared in the summer of 2006 CBS television show, Rock Star: Supernova. Currently, Matthew is in the studio recording some new material of his own, to be released later this year, as well as recording the new Patrice Pike album. There might be some west coast recording going on as well. Stay tuned for that.

BAND CHRONOLOGY SINCE Y2K:

 

Limelight (2009-Current)Patrice Pike (2007-Current)Day After Daze (2002-2007)Redbone (2002)Great White (2000)

MISCELLANEOUS CREDITS AND PROJECTS: 

Six songs and two co-writing credits on Jack Russell’s album Shelter MeCo-writing credit for "My World" on Great White's album Let It Rock. Inducted into Texas-based Buddy Magazine's prestigious Texas Tornado Hall of Fame Established Chez Moi Studios, Dallas and Los Angeles. Composed, arranged, and performed music score for interactive CD-rom video game “Revenge of Crotalus” Composed/Produced music for “Wealth and Creativity" (a meditation/positive affirmation CD) Composed, arranged, and performed movie soundtrack and score for horror-spoof “Post Mortem: A Return to Carnage Hall”Sound editor for “Post Mortem: A Return to Carnage Hall”Extensive and varied studio session experience (writing, performing, and producing, in both L.A. and Dallas), ranging from commercial jingle composition to voice over work

STYLES: Funk, R&B, Rock, Blues, Alternative, Soul, Contemporary Jazz, and Country

SPECIALTIES: Syncopated rhythms & grooves/Texas-style blues/High energy solos & stage presence

INSTRUMENTS: Electric and acoustic guitar / Lead and backing vocals / Piano and keyboards / Bass / Drums by Mac Hine...

EQUIPMENT: Various amps, guitars, and effects, suited for playing anywhere, from small clubs to arenas as well as studio work.