Dave King is a singer-songwriter who hails from Connecticut, USA. He describes his music as “acoustic rock.” Genevieve Will of indie-music.com says, “King invokes spasms of Bob Dylan-style storytelling to surface from the chaos with an astounding album stuffed with potential for success.”

Dave’s latest CD, Shades of Dave showcases his poignant writing, moving vocal style and rich musical talent. It contains 13 original songs that cover a broad landscape of musical and emotional territory. Songs range from the upbeat exuberance of These Are The Good Times to the melancholic isolation of Nobody Sings To Me in a very engaging and personal way. Shades of Dave contains the most ambitious and compelling music made by Dave King to date.

Shades of Dave has received airplay on radio stations WSHU-FM, WPKN-FM, WMNR-FM and Y105-FM. Dave has also appeared on television on The Guitar Show and Time Out.

Dave’s interest in music began at a very early age. He started out by singing and playing along on a makeshift drum set he constructed out of cardboard boxes and pots and pans. He got his first “real” drum set at the ripe old age of seven as a Christmas gift. Soon, he joined up with some friends and formed a band called The Knockouts. They performed several so-called “gigs” at school and Dave was hooked.

Next, Dave began experimenting with keyboards. He took a few lessons, but mostly taught himself to play keyboards as he did with the drums. Around the age of thirteen, Dave discovered the acoustic guitar and never turned back. He learned to play basic chords and practiced for hours on end, playing along with recordings by his favorite artists.

During High School, Dave studied the music of popular singer-songwriters and performed at a number of coffeehouses and other school functions. It was at this time that he also began composing music of his own. He would write, and then record his latest songs on his stereo.

As time went on, Dave’s passion for singing and playing acoustic guitar continued to thrive. He cites his major influences as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Neil Young. Dave performed during his college days at Ohio University in local clubs, university-sponsored events and on the radio.

Following an enthusiastic crowd response at a benefit Peace Festival, Dave purchased a sound system, rehearsed a wide repertoire of songs, hit the club circuit and developed a loyal following of fans. He has performed his acoustic rock in clubs, concerts and festivals so many times he’s quit counting. Dave performed at the 2004 New Haven Folk Festival which featured folk music legend, Arlo Guthrie. Dave’s steady schedule of performances spanning over fifteen years is a testament to his undying commitment to his music and its enduring quality.

Dave’s first album was aptly titled, The Bedroom Tapes. It was recorded at home in his bedroom. It contained 14 original songs featuring vocals and acoustic guitar.

Upon the release of Shades of Dave, Dave commented, “It’s an album I can really be proud of. The songs cover a lot of ground, yet work very well together to create a complete musical work that keeps the listener entertained from start to finish. Many of the songs on the album deal with the ups and downs of personal relationships. And that’s something that everybody can relate to.”

Not surprisingly, Shades of Dave has received wonderful reviews. Y105-FM’s Joe Limardi said, “I loved it as soon as I heard it.” And J-Sin of the Smother.net web site said, “I like that he doesn’t rely on studio trickery to encompass a raw sound—instead it comes naturally and makes his acoustic rock style absolutely essential.”

Comments                                                Add new Comment   View All