Dave's musical beginnings got off to
a slow start when he refused to sing during his first guitar
lesson with the older neighbor girl from down the block. After
4 painful years of piano lessons, his mother would only let him
quit if he went back to the guitar. One of his best friends taught
him to play the guitar and it wasn't long before he and a few
pals formed their first band in Junior High. The electric guitars
were so loud during their practices that they were "persuaded" to switch to acoustic
guitars and get rid of the drums. The Red River Band became Daves
first acoustic trio that actually booked several paying gigs!
Neil Young, CSN&Y and Pure Prarie League were their major
influences so three part harmonies were their trade mark. The
Red River Band (Dave, Mark Stewart and Joe Marchal) played together
almost all the way through High School until sports and ultimately
college caused them all to go their seperate ways.
Dave went to Northwestern University on a football
scholarship and quickly joined an established campus punk band
called the Urban Worms. Dave was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist.
Around Dave's Sophomore year at Northwestern he met an amazing
guitarist and budding recording engineer (Greg Popp) who's musical
taste was more in line with what Dave wanted to play and perform.
Dave and Greg formed the band No Cover, even though all they played
was covers of the Stones, Who, Neil Young and other (now classic)
rock hits. Recently, Dave and Greg formed Critical
Mass/Sonic Footprint,
an all original band.
After Dave graduated he went solo, playing the bars and clubs
of Door County Wisconsin.
In 1989 Dave moved to California and formed the acoustic duo Retina
Blue with his friend and eventually Best Man Charles DiCiano. Dave
and Charles quickly developed a following and played every Friday
and Saturday night for several years before Dave married Stephanie
and moved back to Chicago.
Dave met Frank at a now defunked club in Naperville called the
Cabaret where they were both doing a solo gig. They decided to
try some harmonies and knew in an instant that The Fabulous Frank
and Dave was their destiny.
