Influences:

Growing up in New Jersey I watched and listened to my cousins play. Cousin Richard (Chester) Ayers taught me enough in 1 year to keep me curious for the rest of my life. He was the guitarist for band Elephants Memory at that time in the late 1960’s. I’m grateful he took time from his schedule to stop over when he could for my lessons. He seemed to always know the right things to play.

My first experience with a real guitar (wood) was at age 7…before that, they were plastic. I still have a Silvertone Dano. As well as playing guitar off and on, I later experimented and focused on playing other instruments (banjo, dobro, steel guitar). I quit everything in the mid 80's and took an extended break from music because of other interests. Back at it in the mid 90's, I focused on playing guitar.

Chet Atkins, Don Rich, Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Albert King, Roy Buchanon, Danny Gatton, and others influenced my style. Talented players I’ve worked with have also been influences for me. I still pay attention to new players for inspiration. I have had and still have, the privilege of sharing the stage with a lot of good players, some great local musicians and some...not so local but just traveling through. Major thanks to them for sharing their talent.

“Still taking time to learn guitar phrasings and  tunes I have always had an affinity for... still making myself available as often as possible, getting out to see what happens next. Take a moment and check out the sections below for things I have been doing lately that make me happy....Got To Be There” -Vern

Vern performs regularly in New Jersey, New York & Eastern Pennsylvania areas.