 Born in Huntington, NY, and raised in Blairstown, NJ, Shoenfeld moved to Nashville after graduating high school, where he worked as a house musician at Woodland Studios.While working in the studio, Shoenfeld also performed with many different artists in Nashville, and was introduced to Hollywood Records recording artist "Big Kenny" Alphin.After a brief period of touring in support of Big Kenny’s solo effort Live a Little, they formed the rock band luvjOi, and it was during this time that Shoenfeld met singer-songwriter John Rich.