Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, David has been honing and refining his craft as a jazz guitarist for a long time now. Having grown up with an older brother who introduced David to the guitar at the age of 7. The next 5 decades have been an ongoing and never ending musical journey for this jazz artist.

Influenced by the popular music of the 60's and 70's that included bands and artist like Grand Funk Railroad, SteppenWolf, Deep Purple, The Allman Bros. James Taylor, B. J. Thomas, Doobie Bros, Seals & Croft, the Motown artist of the day right up to the jazz and classical laced rock of Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, David's taste in music has always been wide and varied. "My earilest recollection of having been exposed to jazz was the music by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, who composed and performed the soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" back in 1965. Charlie Brown is one of my favorites during the Christmas season. Some great memories as a kid and the soundtrack the Vince Guaraldi Trio recorded captures the mood and spirit exactly. It really does put you in the Christmas spirit".

In the mid 70's, David's attention was drawn to a well known jazz guitarist by the name of George Benson. Having heard Benson's 1976 release Breezin', the album that catapulted Benson to super stardom in the pop world, this album literally changed David's musical life. "I had never heard someone play the guitar the way this man was playing it". Not familiar with Benson's earlier work, David aquired all of his albums up to that point. From Brother Jack McDuff through Benson's stint at A&M and CTI Records. "George Benson is the consumate jazz guitarist in my opinion. From his tone, to his sense of time and tonality, to his speed and agility, not to mention his soulful and incredible vocals. This man is by far, in a league of one". This also led David to other jazz greats like Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Joe Pass and a host of other great players. "Listening to guys of this calibre, especially Benson, had a profound and lasting effect on me".

By 1978 David's interest had also turned to recording. "My first multi-track was an old 4 channel, reel to reel. The proverbial Teac 44. I've still got those tapes around here somewhere. They were pretty crude recordings but I guess they all are when one starts down that road". In late 1979, David moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl and after submitting some of the tapes he recorded, he was accepted into the Studio Music & Jazz program at the prestigious University of Miami's School of Music. "This was a time of incredible growth for me as a jazz player". Unable to complete the last 2 years of his degree due to financial constraints and after 5 years of being in South Florida, David decided to return home to Charlotte where he began teaching guitar and playing around town in various groups with some of the best jazz muscians in town. "Playing with guys who were already great players, one can't help becoming a better player yourself". A few years later in 1988 David recorded his first album project entitled "To The Top", eventually securing a new artist agreement with independent record label, ITI Records. Later ITI declared bankruptsy and the project never came out. It was also during this period that David became very interested in aviation. "I fell in love with flying and discovered that I had the skill and aptitude for it". 25 years later David flies for one of the nation's largest domestic air carriers, Southwest Airlines. While paying the bills flying the B737 David continues to write, play, record and produce. To date, David has recorded 9 CD's with his latest being "Swing Street", a collection of original, straight ahead jazz and latin influenced compositions. David is happily married to his beautiful wife Angela and they have a "waggy tail and smiley faced" dog named Benson, "The Golden Retreiver". I wonder who he's named after. ;)