David Luther

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Bio:

David Luther is a saxophonist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist originally from the northern Michigan town of Traverse City, and a current resident of New York City. At four years old, he found himself in piano lessons, the beginning of what would become a lifelong pursuit in music. After a brief affair with the violin, David picked up the saxophone at 11, which prevails today as his primary instrument. In addition to the saxophone, he plays keyboards, guitar, and electric bass (passably), flute and clarinet (begrudgingly), and sings (lowly). He attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in 2002 with a BFA in Jazz Studies; regretfully, he never ran the Naked Mile. The next excursion brought him to New York City, where the rent checks have disappeared for the last nine years.

As of February 2013, David is gearing up for a month of rehearsals with Meat Loaf before embarking on a European tour with him this April. He has been a member of Meat Loaf's band since 2006, playing saxophone, keyboards, and acoustic guitar, as well as singing background vocals, and has appeared with the band on The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Lopez Tonight, Austin City Limits, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. He is featured on Meat Loaf's latest record, Hell In A Handbasket (2012), as well as the 3 Bats Live (2007) and Guilty Pleasure Tour Live From Sydney (2012) DVD. Over the last several years, David has toured occasionally with the Easy Star All-Stars, and appeared with Katy Perry on MTV Unplugged. Additionally, he has performed with such musicians as Bettye Lavette, Jimmy McGriff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Reuben Wilson, Seleno Clarke, The Temptations, Dennis Edwards, Clarence Clemmons, Johnny Bassett, Al Hill, Chris Bergson, and Kevin So. He has recorded recently for Julia Haltigan, Kendra Morris, Kevin So, and Freddie Stevenson. When in New York, he appears regularly with the house band at Sleep No More.

A deep love for early rhythm n' blues, rock n' roll, and soul led David to put together The Stick-Ups in 2007, a repertory party band focusing on those aspects of said musics which terrified 50s housewives and led many a youngster to a discovery of their (and others') hips. Upon meeting singer/songwriter/guitarist Freddie Stevenson in the winter of 2009, he started writing songs and formed The Dirty Urchins, which band exists to this day despite David's waning involvement. These days, new sounds are simmering under such names as The Live Humans, Ivy Mike & The Deprecated Elements, The Free Alternatives, and his own.

David's alter ego, Uncle Heavy, collects old 45 rpm records, DJs regularly around New York City at dingy bars and exclusive parties, and releases the occasional podcast in a series entitled, appropriately, "Podcasts With Uncle Heavy."

Influences:

Sax Players: Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Cannonball Adderly, Don Sinta, Johnny Hodges, Red Prysock, Ben Webster, Clifford Scott, Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Paul Desmond, Coltrane, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Rick Margitza, Wayne Shorter, Coleman Hawkins, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie Harris, Donald Walden, Lester Young, Bob Shepard, Fathead Newman, Gene Ammons, Junior Walker, King Curtis, Earl Bostic

But Not Least: Donny Hathaway, Steely Dan, John Lee Hooker, Wilco, Brian Eno, Muddy Waters, Duke Elington, Stevie Wonder, Tom Waits, Ray Charles, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Maria Schneider, Bill Evans, Sex Mob, Prince, Earth Wind & Fire, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Erykah Badu, Charles Mingus, The Roots, Alison Krauss, Joni Mitchell, Kris Kristofferson, Daniel Lanois, Morphine, Aretha Franklin, James Carr, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Bill Frisell, Bruce Springsteen, Meshell Ndegeocello, Isaac Hayes, Miles Davis, Esquivel, Mos Def, Pat Metheney, Wilson Pickett

and so on...