Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, the youngest of seven children, first generation Americans. Attended The Juilliard School where I studied classical singing; then Columbia Univ. where I received a BS. degree. I got a late start writing and to my astonishment, it was even more fulfilling for me than singing. The interesting thing is that as a writer I use all of my musical ability (good ear, sensitivity to words, feeling for form) and then some.