David grew up on a small ranch just south of Albuquerque, New Mexico,
on which the family raised cattle, chickens, & horses. His love
for music saw him singing in choirs from the age of 4, and in 3rd Grade
he took up his first instrument, the clarinet, and continued through
freshman year of college. He first fell in love with the Bass guitar
during his junior year in High School, and soon found himself playing
in the Stage Band, a working Rock Band, and an award winning Folk Group.
He also officially became a choirboy that year singing in the in the Rio Grande Concert Choir and the Choraliers (State Champs in 68), as well as being Drum Major of the marching band both Junior and Senior years. He went on to attend the University of Albuquerque on a Music Scholarship,
then transferred to the University of New Mexico majoring in Music
and singing in the A Cappella Choir (Bass soloist Senior Year), playing
in the Woodwind Quintet, and the Stage Band.
Fresh from school he started playing professionally, working full time in rock,
country, and jazz groups in the Albuquerque & Sante Fe nightclub and recording
scene. In a variety of night clubs and concert venues, David has performed
with Bo Diddely, Willie Nelson, Mose Allison, Herb Ellis, & Carmine Appice,
and opened for Tower of Power, Herbie Mann, Cal Tjader, and Roy Clark. He played
and sang on a number of albums, singles, commercials, and TV shows, and was
the featured vocalist on commercials for banks, auto dealers, and restaurants.
He also performed as an instructor in a series of improvisational jazz clinics
for the New Mexico public School system.
After moving to Southern California, David played with rock, country, and
casual groups. He has been in house bands at the Crazy Horse & Golden West,
various Top 40 rock clubs, and the Porter Valley Country Club. He has played
the Vine Street Bar & Grill, and sung at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
He has played with Sherry Payne (Supremes) & her sister Frieda Pane (Band
of Gold), Bo Donaldson, and Duke Davis and Buckshot, when Duke switched from
bass to guitar. He has soloed in concert and recorded albums and movie soundtracks
with the L.A. Camerata (a Baroque Choir), The L.A. Jazz Choir (Grammy nominated ‘From
All Sides’), The Roger Wagner Ensemble, and with the Angel
City Choral, where he was featured playing and singing on a national commercial
for Sears. David is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts
and Sciences and SAG. He has sung the National Anthem at Sport Events and
Conventions as well.
Since his return to New Mexico, Dave has already enjoyed musical reunion gigs with many friends, and looks forward to playing with many more of his old friends and making new ones along the way. The latest are collaborations with the acclaimed blues group The Teardrops, and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
David’s musical influences have been Roy Rogers & the Sons of the
Pioneers, Elvis, Johnny Cash, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Beethoven, Roy Orbison, Jimi Hendrix,
Waylon Jennings, Allman Brothers, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Miles
Davis, The Eagles, Eddie Raven, Hal Ketchum, and The Flecktones.
