"They say that behind every good man there is a good woman."
I disagree,  instead it should say, "Along side every good man there is a great woman."
Steve Mertes
(guys this comment, has really given me some "brownie points with my wife" ... just kidding Jeri!)

      Over the 36years we have been married, my wife, Jeri has been responsible for encouraging me and has been instrumental in helping me develop my self confidence to sing and tell jokes in public, that also included developing my stage presence, to unlock and share my God given talents.

​      Believe or not, I was a very shy guy, I knew about 10 kids out of my high school class of 500, didn't go to dances, prom and didn't date until I got out of high school.  My dad was a kidder and embarrassed me countless times in public with crazy things he's say to anyone he ran into.. I vowed to never ever be like him and now I'm 1000 times worse than he ever was.  God is amazing and there are tons of people in the world, that he has chosen and changed for a multitude of situations to glorify HIM!  And that is exactly what he did in me!                          

 
So again, it was my wife that brought me out of my shell and now she would love it, if I climbed back in for awhile!
We got our start in comedy in the fall of 1994, totally by chance.  She was going to RV parks to teach craft classes & she was at the Lost Dutchman park in the activity director's office, when the phone rang.  She heard comments like; "oh no" "you can't do that", " "what are we supposed to do now". She hung up and told Jeri "our entertainment just cancelled for next week. I don't know what to do now"  Jeri said "well I play the keyboard and my husband has a great sense of humor and sings"  She said great!  Jeri comes home and tells me; "we are booked at an RV resort for next week!  I said "what?  We don't have any program or equipment and we are going to do a show next week?"  She said we can throw something together".  I said "we don't even have a name"  She said your 5ft 18 & I'm 5ft 11, how about The Tall Two Some From Tempe!
We did that first show with a cheap keyboard, cassette player & a podium microphone.  Soon after, God led me to a guy that had some portable sound equipment for $500 and took payments of $50 a month!!  We did 45 programs that winter! 

In 1995 our 2 daughters 21 & 19 both had babies 2 MONTHS apart!  They were both out on their own at the time and both made poor choices with no father figure around.  We were living in Apache Junction at the time in an RV park planning to spend our 2nd summer in Montrose Co. as campground hosts.  We cancelled that and took the responsibility to help them raise their babies.  Long story short, we raised both babies for 3 years & 1 baby until age 19.  Both are doing great and as of 2019 they are 23 years old.  So we have been out of the child raising business about 4 years now. I worked full time through out and comedy was more of a hobby that I so missed doing on a regular basis.  So I managed to perform from time to time.  But my sense of humor continued to surface at every opportunity; meaning all somebody has to do is talk to me a minute or 2 and I blurt out some funny comment to make them laugh.

2013 at my job I started writing my Praise Oldie songs.  I had a challenge of figuring out how to display them in a program karaoke style, as I wanted the powerful words God gave to be seen as well as heard.  I also have been a karaoke buff for about 25 years now.  I then polished up a program to fit with the songs and in 2015 presented the program to our church.  IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! People knew the 60's melodies and jumped right in singing along with me.  I inserted hilarious stories, puns, riddles and jokes throughout the 90 minute program (see comments)  So through out the years I performed sporadically putting together special programs for holidays, birthdays etc.  BUT MY SENSE OF HUMOR WAS ALWAYS PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AS MY MIND WAS ALWAYS GOING, TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH.  AND I SANG IN CHURCH AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.  I also continued to catalog my humor and to this day I have a ton of material yet to be shared.

2016 - 2017 I started performing regularly at assisted living homes and in churches.  I did over 100 shows and was working part time.  It was a real experience that I will never forget.  Sadly budget cuts, cut out entertainment at a lot of facilities and that was the end of performing.  Again I continued to share my comedy and any time with anyone, wherever I go to cheer someone up. COMEDY WAS MY OUTLET THAT HAS GOTTEN ME THROUGH MANY UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS.  I still perform in churches every chance I get.

In June of 2017 I was suffering from some serious health challenges that set us back financially.  Through the grace of God I was healed and started back working a full time job. 

2018 I performed a Halloween program (see videos home page) and also was asked back to perform a Christmas program as well.  Then in February of 2019 performed at the Caliente park in Florence with a great show everybody loved.

I love to perform and I am very comfortable in front of any size audience.  I love humor!  I have a delivery style that nobody else has, I have never been booed off the stage because it's very clever and original & hilarious.  In my spare time I am concentrating on recording my Audio Joke Book because I have so much material that is being wasted.  Audio style because I want people to share the humor, learn how to tell the jokes and share, share share.  I also am gearing up to do more performing THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.

RETIRING IN MAY OF 2019 - FULL TIME RESIDENT IN FLORENCE, AZ.
With that being said, I am introducing myself to the 55 plus communities to bring laughter and music year round.  This is my passion!  I love to make people laugh and enjoy interacting with my audience through out my show.  Remember my comedy and music can be designed for your event.  I DO NOT HAVE CANNED SHOW, LIKE MOST ENTERTAINERS.

So I invite you to spend some time on my site and watch and listen to my style of comedy
THEN CALL ME TO BOOK A SHOW!  YOUR GUESTS WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!  (see form on home page)

Erma Bombeck once said (para-phrase)  When I stand before God, I want him to say well done good and faithful servant for using all the talents and gifts that I gave you. That is exactly how I feel about what God has called me to do.  
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