ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi hiː ɹᵻloʊkˈeɪɾᵻd tə sˈʌðɚn kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə tə stˈʌdi wɪð mˈæstɚ pɚkˈʌʃənˌɪst, dʒˈɑːn bˈɜːɡəmˌoʊ æt kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɹts.
In 1980 he relocated to Southern California to study with master percussionist, John Bergamo at California Institute of the Arts.