ONE-ON-ONE
Life Outside the Office
John J. Brough, Jr. is the director of business development for DiSanto, Priest & Co. He has over 30 years of experience concentrating in taxation and business advisory services for closely-held companies and high net worth individuals.
John has been an adjunct lecturer at Brown University and Bryant University and has been a guest speaker for both the Rhode Island and American Bar Associations. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island with a concentration in accounting as well as a Masters of Science in Taxation degree from Bryant University.
Outside the office, John is the drummer for New York Minute, which has been playing around Rhode Island and elsewhere since 1995. Comprised of a “collection of guys with day jobs,” New York Minute plays classic rock, R&B, blues, oldies, and popular music.
WHAT COUNTS: What drew you to accounting? Did you know when you were young that this was a direction you might follow or was it something that clicked later?
John Brough: I actually fell into the major. I had absolutely no concept of what accounting was all about and like most of us at that age, had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I entered the University of Rhode Island in 1974 and started out as a Political Science major. After quickly deciding that wasn’t going to work, I ended up at the door of the College of Business. I chose accounting as it was the toughest curriculum and seemed to offer the most options.
WC: Describe your work at DiSanto Priest & Co.
Brough: My concentration is in tax work and I focus on closely held family businesses, high net worth individuals, and overall business advisory services. At DP & Co., like many CPAs, we act in a true “trusted advisory” role with our clients. Other areas of concentration include litigation support, succession planning and business valuation.
WC: What do you find to be most fulfilling about your work?
Brough: Being that trusted advisor. The most rewarding part of the day is when a client calls looking for some help tackling a matter or two and needs a reliable sounding board and solid advisor. It’s such a beautiful thing working closely with clients assisting them in the most delicate, personal, and vital of areas.
WC: What drew you to music?
Brough: Like anyone growing up in the 1960s, I started listening to The Beatles and the other great musicians of the era. I began playing drums in the second or third grade and played pretty seriously right through my sophomore year of college. Throughout those years, I played on stage, jazz and rock bands and first played the bars of Misquamicut when I was 16. In high school I had a great opportunity and traveled to the Bahamas with an All-American youth program, playing aboard a cruise ship and on the mainland. I even came close to going to music school after receiving an invitation to participate in one of Berkley’s pre-acceptance programs. While I dabble with the guitar and have attempted to learn the piano, I guess I recognized back then just how much real talent there is out there and the idea of winding up as yet another struggling musician wasn’t all that appealing.
WC: Can you draw a correlation between your work as a CPA and performing with New York Minute?
Brough: There are several similarities. To do them well, both areas take precision, accuracy, dedication, and preparation. Music – like accounting – is very mathematical, especially in the rhythm section.
WC: What is the best part about being in the band?
Brough: About six years ago – after having not done any formal playing for some 27 years – an opportunity came up to audition for New York Minute. Just before we started, and as I was setting up, the band’s lead guitarist at the time (a former member of NRBQ) apparently liked what he was hearing. As the story goes, he turned to the group and said “O.K., that’s our guy.” I was up against several other “working musicians,” so to get a nod from such a talent like him (and the rest of the guys in the band) was a huge compliment.
With New York Minute, besides playing with such good musicians, it is the overall camaraderie, chemistry and energy amongst the band members that makes it so much fun. People always comment that it looks like we are having a blast while we’re playing – and we are. That same chemistry and energy often resonates through the crowd and one feeds off the other. Our practices are an absolute riot and could easily become a sitcom all their own. A group of professionals in their 50’s or so - capturing part of their youth - is similar to the aging of a fine wine.
As far as playing music, it’s such a great stress reliever and escape. Much like stepping through a looking glass - far away from the hustle, bustle and pressures of the day.
WC: Do you have a favorite song to perform?
Brough: No, it’s not Wipeout (The Surfaris) or In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly). Actually, I don’t have a favorite song, but more so the music itself or the genre. Blues, rock, jazz, and funk would sum it up best.
WC: Here’s your shameless plug opportunity. How can people here you guys play?
Brough: We did a live CD a few years ago and they are available on CD Baby or through our web site, http://www.newyorkminuteband.com/. Or better yet - come to one of our shows and we’ll give you one!
