Dave started taking piano lessons in the 2nd grade and continued through grade school. In the 5th grade he took up playing the cornet and was often 1st chair, 1st cornet in the school’s band. He was introduced to the electric bass in the 7th grade and got his first electric bass for Christmas that year. He started playing it in the school band and continued to play the cornet.

In the 9th grade he moved from cornet to the baritone and played in the school’s concert band. (He played football during high school to avoid playing in the marching band.) During his high school years he played bass in the schools jazz band and the school’s professional, working vocal swing choir, playing for large corporation’s special events and multiple fashion shows during this time.

During his sophomore year, and for his ability to read music, he was selected as the sole bass player to attend the newly formed Fort Hays School for the Performing Arts. The program was for juniors and seniors. This educational program involved intensive musical training for 4 hours every day focusing on recording, music theory, performing and composition He then would return to his home school in the afternoons and play in the swing choir. (5-6 hours of playing music every day).

After high school he began performing with several local bands such as Macbeth, Dreamer and Strider playing popular venues such as The Agora, (later to become The Newport), Al Rosa Villa, and many others.

After taking 10 years off to help raise his children and attend school, be started playing in Blues bands. For the next several years he performed with The Orange Barrels and The Curb Feelers, a blues based group w/an ever-changing array of stand-in musicians such as saxophonist, keyboardist, and brass and percussionist. (Sometimes the stage got pretty crowded.)

After the Blues period Dave hooked up with Next Exit, a popular band playing a top 40 dance rock. Dave was with Next Exit for over 11 years playing several local clubs, corporate events and weddings, traveling to over 6 states.  Dave played over 500 shows with Next Exit.

He left Next Exit in early 2012 to take some personal time and focus on work, being self-employed.

After 2-1/2 years off, he hooked up with Acoustic Steel for 2 years, playing a variety of what would be considered Americana style of music.

Katie and the RED HOTS is the next step in Dave’s musical adventure.