Nathan began his professional bass-playing career in 1972 at the age of seventeen, performing popular jazz music with jazz pianist Chuck Ruff and vocalist Donna Courtell. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree at the University of Oregon in 1977. Nathan earned a Master of Arts in Music degree at California State University, Sacramento, in 1982.

Nathan has had two seasons with the Reno Philharmonic, one season with the Sacramento Symphony, and one season as principal bassist for Sacramento's Camellia Symphony. Nathan has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, the Peter Britt Festival Orchestra, and the Oregon Festival of American Music Orchestra. Nathan is in his forty-first season with the Eugene Symphony, playing with them from 1975 - 1977 and from 1987 to the present. Nathan's teacher is Larry Epstein, retired Assistant Principal of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan is an accomplished composer of songs and serious music. He sings, plays, and uses the bow while playing jazz. Nathan was the leader of the jazz duo "Aftermath," joined by the late world-class jazz guitarist Mike Denny (1959-2023). Aftermath performances occurred mostly at Eugene, Oregon's Hilton Hotel.

In 2013 Nathan released the CD Album "I'll Think of Something," and is the owner and president of Soaring Music Publications. Nathan is also an arranger, piano soloist who is releasing a 14-song album of his father's melodies (July 15, 2024). Nathan has performed with Nancy King, the late Charles Dowd, Paul Biondi, Tom Shove, Bill Sabol, Vikki Brabham, Gus Russell, the late Alan Tarpinian, Jessie Marquez, and others.

Over his part-time music career, Nathan has served as a licensed educator for many districts in various roles, including 18 years as a full-time licensed teacher. Nathan has recently served as a temporary MS math teacher, a halftime HS online math teacher, in 2021 was under a full-time contract with the Springfield Public Schools as a building substitute and a HS summer-school math teacher, and in 2023 was a half-time HS math subject-area specialist in Lowell, Oregon at the Bridge Charter Academy. Currently, Nathan works for the Springfield Public Schools as a substitute teacher and will be the district's 2024 HS Summer School Math teacher.

Nathan is also a caring husband and father while an active member of his church. His interest includes following U of O Football, Men's/Women's Basketball, fishing, golf, and occasionally jogging.