It snowed in Riverside, California the January I was born. The unusual event, remembered by citizens as The Snow of '49 predicted, perhaps, that I would make my home in Minnesota some 40 years later. Now my children live close along with my grandchildren. Since family is more important than weather, my wife and I plan on snow and cold as a permanent way of life. Minnesota is a beautiful place and we have come to appreciate the dramatic weather changes. Besides, lots of people grow old here.
Much of my time from September to May is taken up with teaching in the music department at Bethel University in St. Paul. My main area of interest is sacred music and I teach most of the courses in that field. My research is in this field as well and takes me into the world of American hymnody, especially the reform movement in the American Protestant church in the early 19th century. But since Bethel is a small liberal arts university, I wear other hats as well. I also teach music education methods courses along with a general education course in the arts. And yes, in order to do this kind of work I had to be educated beyond my intelligence. I have a bachelor's degree from Biola University, a master's degree from California State University, Fullerton, and a doctoral degree from the University of Oregon.
When I'm not engaged in teaching or research, I'm writing poetry or hymns or gardening or repairing antique wicker furniture or learning another bluegrass lick on my guitar. The gardening, of course, gets a long rest during the winter.
My wife Marylin and I have three grown daughters and four grandsons.
Bethel University
Anthology of American Hymn Tunes
Amazing Grace: Some Early Tunes 
Connecting Ritual and Worship (pdf)
Reformers and Resisters: Changing
ooTastes in American Protestant
ooChurch Music, 1800-1860 (pdf)