Tell us a little about yourself.
A native Memphian, I have been happily married for 35 years to my wife, Susanne. We have two grown daughters, Olivia and Elianna, and a newborn grandson, Levi.
Tell us about your musical experience.
In my mid-40s, I decided to learn to play the piano. I have always loved the instrument’s soft, expressive, and versatile sound. My progress at first was slow — life as a CEO, raising a family, and not always having the right teachers made consistency difficult.
Then I met Steve Katz, and everything changed. Steve is warm, caring, and devoted to meeting students wherever they are on their musical journey. He has inspired me to practice daily and, more importantly, to rediscover the joy of learning. With his guidance, I’ve even written a few songs — one for my daughter, which I shared at her wedding, and one for my father in honor of his 90th birthday.
Tell us about your lessons with Steve.
At our lessons, Steve emphasizes the structure of songs as well as chord progressions, both of which help me when I write music. We learn both treble/bass and chord arrangements, and Steve allows me to move on from song to song after a week or two. Because Susanne and I spend summers in Park City Utah, skiing and staying out of the Memphis humidity, I take my Memphis lessons in person at Steve’s studio and my Park City lessons via FaceTime. Both setups are equally effective.
Tell us about your main musical interests.
I enjoy diving into music theory, and I’ve taken music theory classes at the University of Memphis. But above all, I love sitting down at the piano to play — especially selections from the American Songbook and classic rock. It clears my mind and centers me. I am attracted to ballads because of their expressiveness. Among my favorites are “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” by Alan Lerner and “Yesterday” by the Beatles.
Do you prefer chord or treble/bass pieces?
I naturally gravitate toward chord-based pieces. However, treble-and-bass arrangements challenge me in all the right ways, especially when I’m working to translate the bass clef from page to fingers.
Tell us about your career.
Although I began my professional life practicing law, the heart of my career has been leading our family business, Landau Uniforms. My father (Nat), my brother (Gregg), and I grew Landau from a U.S.-based manufacturer into a global sourcing company with more than 2,000 associates.
Three years ago, we sold the company to a private equity group, and soon after, Gregg and I, along with four friends, launched Lift Insight and Capital. Our firm mentors business owners, serves as a Board of Advisors, and provides funding to support their growth
Tell us about your other hobbies.
Beside music, my hobbies include jogging, bike riding, swimming, snow skiing, and Peloton classes.