Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, WAZ was heavily influenced by his parent's record collection which included artists such
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, WAZ was heavily influenced by his parent's record collection which included artists such as The Pretenders, ELO, & Neil Young. At the early age of 8, 10cc's song, "The Things We Do For Love" inspired him to pick up his first guitar. After graduating college, he packed up his car and drove west having no idea what the future held. Within a day of arriving in California, he got a call from his college buddy Pete Yorn, to start a band.Playing shows night after night WAZ was moved by the raw and emotional connection people have with heartfelt music & lyrics... It was this connection that inspired him to start writing his own songs and pursue his solo career.
In 2008, WAZ independently released both his debut album "The Sweet Bye and Bye" and "The Secret" EP produced by Will Golden & mixed by Jamie Candiloro (Ryan Adams, REM). "The Secret" debuted @ #13 and the lead-off single "Ordinary Girl" climbed to #3 on iTunes Singer-Songwriter Chart. He's been featured on Scrubs, Grey’s Anatomy, The Hills, Men in Trees, and in Rolling Stone & Paste Magazine.
On September 21st, WAZ released his new full length album, These Bright Lights. This album was co-produced by Will Golden & WAZ, mixed and mastered by Tom Rogers (Magnetic Fields) with Special Guest Appearances by Pete Yorn & David Immergluck (Counting Crows). These Bright Lights is WAZ’s coming of age album. This confessional record tells his story of falling in love and wedding his southern belle who graces the album with her angelic vocals and piano playing. He's currently scoring Bill Lawrence & Courteney Cox's ABC Comedy "Cougar Town".