I’ve been playing professionally since my 16th birthday back in 1974, a journey that took me through the tri-state PA/NJ/DE area, down the East Coast, and eventually playing in 49 of the 50 states, and on 5 continents. After being honorably discharged from the US Navy in 1980, my musical life went into overdrive. In the early ’80s and ’90s, I managed to open solo for iconic acts like The Hooters and Blues Traveler right as they were hitting their prime.

Over the decades, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to share stages and billings with legendary artists like Los Lobos, Del McCoury & David Grisman (Del & Dawg), David Bromberg, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Keller Williams, Arrested Development, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic, just to name a few.
Today, I still travel north 5 or 6 times a year to tour with my band of misfit HoBoes, The Hoppin Boxcars—we were named the 2022 Philadelphia Folk/Country/Bluegrass Band of the Year, and you can find our stuff on all streaming platforms! (Please check us out, & thanks!)

As a multi-instrumentalist, I love keeping things sonically interesting. On any given night, you might hear me switch between guitar, mandolin, ukulele, harmonicas, jaw harp, djembe, congas, marimba, or steel drums.
Because I have a running repertoire of over 2,300 songs, I rarely play the same cover twice at a venue, and I’m known for playing uninterrupted 3-hour sets.

I hate taking breaks because I never want to lose the magic and connection I share with my audience.
My sets are a mix of storytelling, travel-inspired originals, and rare, eclectic covers. My biggest musical hero & influence is David Bowie. Back on July 12th, 1990, I actually met Bowie at the old Spectrum, after his Sound & Vision set in Philly and asked for his permission to play his music. He gave me his blessing, saying I could play his songs as long as I played them with “passion and conviction”, and today I proudly cover over 50 of his songs.

These days, I have found my ultimate muse right here in the Old Southeast neighborhood of St. Pete. Living just two blocks from Lassing Park gives me an amazing amount of writing inspiration. In fact, I am currently in the studio recording 11 (it might end up as 13) of the 50+ original songs I’ve written just this year. Whether I’m playing a festival stage or setting up for my over 100th gig at my favorite local spot, The Chattaway, my goal with my art, or my music remains beautifully simple: to captivate, to connect, and to keep local live music alive.

Music isn’t just what I do, it is quite literally life to me. I wake up with music in my head, try to develop that thought into a rhythm, and build verses out of anything and everything around me until it’s ready to share with the world.

Links
www.facebook.com/share/18n6YYAf8x/?mibextid=wwXIfr
www.open.spotify.com/album/3PiDnByoH6F8CknbQLY2Ht?si=-C1NpK9YROKHMdilA9F-uw
www.reverbnation.com/thehoppinboxcars
www.youtube.com/@ziggydotman520