Dave Guillemot

Bio:

A Songwriter's Journey

Dave Guillemot was born in Blenheim, at the top of the south island of New Zealand in the premier wine growing region Marlborough. His interest in music began at about age eight when a friend of His parents, a rabbit hunter/guitar player would play, and sing him Hank Williams songs.

During one of Jimmy, the rabbit hunter’s infrequent visits into town, Dave, because of his fear of the dentists drill was refusing to go to a dental appointment. No amount of persuasion or threats from his Mum could make him go, Jimmy told the young rebel that if he went, and behaved himself he would buy him a guitar. Dave did go, behaved himself, and got his first guitar.

Some years later after a stint as a signalman in the Royal New Zealand Navy, Dave became the singer in local Blenheim band The Silhouettes. This led to appearances on New Zealand National television in Wellington, on the shows “Studio one” and “ The Entertainers “. As a result of this, The Music director of the shows offered Dave Work singing radio and television commercials whilst renovating his and other music and media peoples homes.

A couple of years later the building industry started into decline, and Dave decided to look for more secure work. He applied for and got a job as a sales representative with Polygram Records, and soon worked his way into a management role. Dave worked in the music industry for almost two decades with both Polygram in NZ and B.M.G. in Australia working with, and helping promote some of the biggest names in music.

Over the years Dave had occasionally tried his hand at song writing, but these early attempts ended up in the trash basket because, in his words., “they just sounded so corny” In 1995 Dave left the recording industry to return home to New Zealand to work for his brother Mike building houses.

It was 2005 before He started song writing again, this time successfully with his song “ Fast track to nowhere “ making him a finalist in the November 2005 round of the Prestigious American “Song of the year” song writing competition.

Dave was starting to write more and recording demo’s at friend Sid Limbert’s Snout studio in Waikawa Bay. Sid had asked Dave why he hadn’t written anything from a New Zealand perspective. This prompted Dave to write a song based on his feelings and experience of living as an expatriate Kiwi in Australia.

The song, “ Land of the long white cloud “ was recorded and released in 2007 by long time friend Barry Leef. And has also since been released as the title track on New Zealand Male Country artist of the year Dennis Marsh’s recent album, and on Taranaki’s Ann Pascoe’s “ The best of Ann Pascoe “

Member Since:

August 14, 2009

Members:

Thanks to ...

Dan Drilling, Panda Productions of Nashville.

The musicians:

Dan Drilling - lead & rhythm guitars
Mike Johnson - Pedal steel & Dobro
Catherine Marx - Piano
Mike Schrimpf - Piano & Harmonica
Joe Caverlee - Fiddle
Matt McGee - Bass
Mark Beckett - Drums


Vocals:

Joanie Keller "Bad case of heart break" Tim Culpepper -"Four Horsemen" " It's Friday night" "It's Hell Not Knowing", "The Wedding", "Old Ronnie D"
"Nothing seems to be going right" " Fast track to nowhere " "She wants Us to be friends" Mike Lusk - "In Trouble Again"
Kristy Rhode - "One Night Stand"

Influences:

Hank Williams, Kris Kristoferson, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Tom T Hall.

Plus all music from Strauss to Roxy music. But My first love has always been Country.