 He studied under Edvard Moritz at the La Follette School of Music at the age of eight, and was working professionally at 11.In 1952 he began touring with Louis Prima, and also toured and performed with Gene Krupa, Lester Young, and Tony Scott in the 1950s.In 1956 he hit the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 with the song "Chain Gang", peaking at #13.