You name it. Django Reinhardt, Randy Newman, George Gershwin, Woody Guthrie, Berilli Lagrene, Jethro Burns, Mississippi John Hurt, Stephane Grappelli, Hoagy Carmichael, Leon Redbone, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Doc Watson, The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker, Howlin' Wolf, Reverend Gary Davis, The Beatles, The Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Gospel Music of all sorts, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bill Monroe, Charlie Christian, Greg Brown, Joni Mitchell, Fappy Lafertin, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Willie Johnson, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Gonzalo Bergara, Lucien Stryk, Issa, Al Murphy, Dave Moore, Mike O'Connell, Mike Koertgen, Vicki Taylor, Duane Webster, Bill Pontarelli, Emily Reynolds, Jerry Rudy, and on and on . . . .
SINGER-SONGWRITER, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST--2009 EMMY AWARD WINNER IN COMPOSITION AND WRITING. Influenced by everything from gypsy jazz to folk, delta blues, swing, rockabilly, bluegrass & folk. As a singer-songwriter, David's known for his way with words and melodies, which conjure up the American musical landscape. His songs touch on everything from the difficulties of love to the people and places along old Route 66, or a carnival from his childhood, or swing tunes reminiscent of Tin-Pan-Alley—in a wide range of CDs released over the last 30 years. In 2008, he was nominated for an Emmy in songwriting for his work for PBS.
Spent decades studying the passionate guitar work of the famed gypsy swing instrumentalist, Django Reinhardt. His group DECO DJANGO specializes in this infectious music from the 1930s. Recently, he has written a new musical/play about Django Reinhardt.
In the past, David has also recorded and performed with people such as Greg Brown and Dave Moore, and he studied and performed with the great Jethro Burns, of Homer and Jethro fame. In addition, David has played at many of the large folk music festivals in North America, such as Vancouver and Winnipeg, where he has been recognized as both a songwriter and instrumentalist.
A working cartoonist, who work appears around the world through Carlton Cards and Soultrader of London. David has published a number of books as well: with Alfred A. Knopf and Ghost Road Press, as well as short stories and poems. He holds a Ph.D. in English, and he has been a writer in residence at a number of colleges and universities in the US. He is an ALA and NAPPA award-winning albums for children and is currently the songwriter for the new PBS children’s show The Big Green Rabbit. As DIRTY LINEN says, no one else writes kids songs like DW. SEE VIDEOS OF DAVID'S SONGS FOR KIDS BELOW ON THE YOUTUBE VIEWER.
