Elvis Costello, Neil Finn (Crowded House), Del Amitri, Ben Folds, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze and Split Enz), and John Doe (X), Odds, Matthew Sweet and The Beatles.
Dave Caruso is a songwriter and entertainer from Trenton, Michigan. For over 30 years, armed with his keyboard, guitar and bass, Dave has performed thousands of shows in 23 states at hundreds of colleges, nightclubs, casinos and festival venues.
Dave's career began as the primary songwriter and front man who fueled the power pop band Caruso, which featured Dave and his three brothers, Mike, Joe and Rob Caruso. Under Dave's musical direction, the band recorded 2 albums and 6 singles, including "The White Album" and "In the Face." On the strength of their studio recordings and their versatile live performances, they earned a spot for two consecutive years as one of sixteen bands in the prestigious Miller Rock Network, sponsored by The Miller Brewing Company. Through the Miller sponsorship, they soon landed tracks on two nationally released RCA Records compilation albums. Meanwhile, the band's growing audience, particularly at colleges, was starting to take notice.
Caruso's single, "London," appeared on the playlists of college radio stations all across the Midwest. They joined the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA), and in no time Caruso was nominated not once, but twice for NACAs Contemporary Music Award, an honor and distinction they shared with The Bangles, Huey Lewis and the News, The Police, and Journey. Caruso opened for such artists as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, UB40, Burton Cummings, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, and Corey Hart, between their headline concerts to sold-out crowds in 22 states and Canada.
Dave Caruso has won several awards for national achievement in original songwriting, including top prizes from the American Music Conference and the Songwriter International Contest. Dave studied Music Composition and Computer Science at U of M Dearborn. He gives regular songwriting clinics to middle school and high school students, Optimist International, and other organizations.
Dave left the Caruso band in 1987 and formed his own music production company, Aural Contact Productions, to apply his creative energies toward recording and live performance showcases across lower Michigan and in California. During this time, he also co-founded several successful Detroit-area bands, including Mr. Happy and Dave Caruso & The Room Upstairs.
In 2001, Dave began working as a dueling pianist under his company name, "Piano Wars!" He got his start by studying dueling pianos acts in Michigan, Cleveland and Las Vegas. He has since performed at clubs such as Rum Bullions (Reno, NV), J.D.'s Key Club (Pontiac, MI), Rum Runners (Mishawaka, IN and Lansing, MI) and Sluggers (Chicago, IL). Under Dave's leadership as Entertainment Director for Pub 13 in Ypsilanti, MI, the club was voted "Best Piano Bar" by Real Detroit Weekly. Dave is currently the Entertainment Director for Rum Runners dueling pianos club in Mishawaka, IN. In his first year as E.D., Rum Runners won the South Bend Tribune's Reader's Choice Award for Best Live Entertainment Club / Bar, an honor for which they were previously nominated four years running but never won until now.
Dave's newest single, "Elizabeth Parker," has been called Dave's best recording to date.
Dave continues to write, record and play original music concerts. His web site, www.DaveCarusoweb.com, is loaded with pictures, audio, and video, and chronicles his entire musical career.
Click to visit Dave's original music web site.
Click to visit Dave's dueling pianos web site.
Wow Dave! Your show in the "INT ICE" Lounge at Detroit's MGM Grand was awesome! What a experience, what a room, simply elegant! I'll be back for your April shows in the "INT ICE" Lounge!
Lorio-Ross is still around eh? I used to work for Sterling Diversion (Joe Perino) when I left Detroit. Speaking of I'll be there tomorrow but I see you'll be in Indiana, shucks, we just keep missing each other! Have a good show anyway and perhaps you can just come a little further west to Chi-town (wink wink)
Hey Dave, how is everything going? You need to do an original Caruse show in the D, I would love to go to that. Anyway, I'm starting a DJ business, so if you have any recommendations or tips, send them my way.
Hi Dave! When are ya coming to play in "Oakland County" - - ? LOL... I miss seein' ya but glad you are busy in Indiana. When's the next "Caruso" reunion?? xoxoxo...
Dave, I just received my copy of Caruso The Albums. I acutually have all the albums/tapes, just no way to play them anymore. Thanks for re-relasing the music that was a big part of the soundtrack of my High School and College Days.
Hey Dave! Just wanted to let you know I will be visiting South Bend this coming weekend, and I will be at Rum Runners if you are there Friday night. I am taking a much needed break from Texas.
YOU AND your BROS ROCKED tonight I am glad to have gotten to see your Reunion and glad your back in Michigan now LETS STAY HERE!!!! thanks for playing my song lol
Dave!! I miss you!! I went to the last night at R-and-R and you weren't there to play WTF!! I guess I'll have too go again..You are truly the best...Love Jager girl #2!! :)
Hey Dave!!! We had an awesome time at Rum Runners Saturday night. You make Rum Runners such a awesome place to hang out. We are planning on being there again this Saturday so we will see you then. Have a great day!!!
Thanks for add Dave! It really was so great to have seen you in Lansing! I'm glad that I was able to before I moved to California. I love it here! You should duel some pianos in Los Angeles! There are a few piano bars out here (i'm sure you alread knew that) anyway, keep up the good work! :)
