Back In The Dave

In this episode, I'll talk about the future of Back in The Dave, my music, and so much more. I can't wait to let you in on the journey and share my vision for what's ahead. There's a lot to look forward to, and I'm so grateful you are here with me…

In this episode, walk with me from my early childhood beginnings watching my opera-singing mom perform on stage, through the 1980s limited technologies, to present day real-life sounding instruments. The Awakening is my first attempt at composing and recording a classical-sounding song using contemporary orchestral libraries.

I've been on pens and needles since 2017 to release this song! "The Awakening" goes back to my childhood, the years my siblings and I spent watching our mom rehearse the leading role of Daphnie Byfield with a full orchestra in Irving Burgie's original play- Ballad for Bimshire. The Awakening is the culmination of my childhood influences growing up backstage, watching my amazing mom sing, and the a...

The relationship between the piano and me is a story that feels like a coming of age. I smile in amazement when I think back on how it all started.   The piano was the first instrument I was introduced to. I remember my siblings and I gathered around the piano one Saturday evening, watching my dad play Chopsticks and another song I can't remember the name of. I was amazed! My dad was making music...

Some songs continue to top my list for bringing up my emotions. I can't explain the reasons why. I can only explain how they make me feel! I genuinely know the connection between the vibrations of music and the vibration of the human body and our soul's energies are one. I sincerely believe it is because music comes from us, and we come from music. I pulled several songs together to share with you...

Today, April 11th is the 48th anniversary of the passing of my brother Marc. I like to do positive things on this day now as it was a traumatizing and painful experience for me, my family, and our friends and neighbors.  I have a short story I want to tell you that took place between Marc and me in the back seat of my mom's car while driving out to Long Island to visit our grandparents. It wasn't...

Ah, the feelings of young first love! Having lived for multiple decades, I appreciate my youthful experiences of falling in love. Well, "in like" is more like it at that age. 1974, as I approached my 12th birthday. A new classmate entered Horizon School. Her name was Peri Belleman.  I think every hormone in every part of my body came alive! Every move she made, I watched, every word she spoke, I l...

oin me on this episode as I drop my latest single "Take It Higher"! 🎶 But wait, there's more! Right after the premiere, don't touch that dial. I'm here for an exclusive celebration of the song. 🎉 I'll be delving into the creation process and all the behind-the-scenes stories. It's not just a release; it's a journey into the heart of the music. This marks my first release in three years, and I ca...

I believe that each year, life should move ahead in love and peace. Our life experience should not be of pain, anger, and enrage. I'm not suggesting we should all be tip-toeing through the tulips all day. But make a weekly conscious choice to find peace and joy. The holidays bring a sense of peace, calm, and joy. Folks are nicer and less stressed. The energy of love throughout the world is felt by...

It's that time of year! Time to be happy, full of joy and peace. Yet, Many of us easily fall into deep thought, thinking about those we love who have passed on. I'm there with you! For me, it's my dad, my older sister, my little brother, my grandparents and many more. And with all these holiday feelings bottled up inside of me. This year is compounded with local and global unrest.  Israel and Hama...

We are so entangled in our cultures that breaking free from the script seems unimaginable. We've bought into the idea that culture defines us. Don't get me wrong; culture is fantastic for connecting, but it shouldn't be our default setting. The subject matter in this Back in The Dave episode is particularly sensitive, and my perspective may not align with the mainstream narrative. I'm aware that I...

Picture this: I'm on the sales floor demonstrating a stereo system for a customer back in the day; I'm rocking fresh out the studio music from my band Chace to show off the system and my music, LOL! Suddenly, disaster strikes. This is an uproarious story of how a crazy mishap turned into an epic workday tale.

In late 1983, I began to sense tensions within the band. Clearly, there was a pink elephant in the room. I denied there was a growing issue. Instead, I did what I always did. I went to my bedroom and came up with a bassline for another dance tune, as if music would solve our problems! We felt success was on the way. And all of us began to live as if it had happened already! But in early 1984. Ever...

Transition; is a word that often refers to the passing of life, a change, a shift, the old to a new. After months of trial and tribulation trying to figure out our sound! Chace experienced a transition between late 1981 thru 1982.   There were so many steps along our journey. As always, defining and taking the first step was our priority. And to me, that meant coming up with a dance song, a funky...

The fall of 1981 was insane! As a band, we could not find songs that we felt could compete with the top forty artists of the era. Musically we had to stand with Luther Vandross, Rick James, Chaka Kahn, and Tina Marie. And that's just scratching the surface! Clearly, this was no laughing matter, LOL! We needed to define our sound. That was the key that would separate us from the immense top 40 bill...

During high school, I was dead serious about being like the commodores. I modeled myself behind Lionel Richie and wanted to follow in the band's footsteps. I knew the first step was to go to college and start a band. Let me be clear. Not so much to learn music. But to start a band! Like the Commodores did. I did just that in the winter of 1981. Chace became so promising. I dropped out of college t...

Do you recall a moment in life when you were struggling with something? No matter how hard. It didn't click! Then out of nowhere. A stranger comes along and teaches you a little something, and bam! You got it. This month's "Back in The Dave" podcast episode tells the story of my struggle learning a challenging style of bass playing called "thumbing."Then five years later, a crazy twist happens!  

I have a new artist and an old friend I would like to introduce to you. His name is Aaron "Bionic" Brown. Aaron and I met twenty-five years ago. It is hard to believe so many years have gone by. His love for jazz and his eclectic taste for so much music surpasses my comprehension.   A few months back. I took a couple of hours to catch up with Aaron. He played his new songs for me, and we talked so...

Benjamin N. Cardozo high school 1977, a new school, and new friends. The tenth grade was the bomb! Not because I was so in love with school, my grades surely told another story! But it was the time in my life when I'd begin to meet musicians from all over Queens,NY. My older brother Anthony had been attending Cardozo high two years before me. Once I arrived at the school. He began introducing me t...

"Back in The Dave returns after a one-year hiatus! Listen now to the "Happy New Year" episode, and when you're done. Now is a great time to binge-listen to the past five seasons. I'm very excited to be back doing the show, and looking forward to engaging with you all!

It's been since Novemebr 2021 since my last episode, much has happeded, and much is changing. I'm here to update you on the show, and more.

A sea of female guitar players, how do you stand out? Life challenges never stop, the joy and pain dancing in the rain, still finding a way to bring it all together in a single instance of life while expressing it through her music. Vicki Genfan, "percussive" acoustic guitar player and vocalist, Vicki takes us through her life and music, sit back, listen, and embrace one beautiful human being and...

As a bass player, the drummer is my clock. My job is to stay locked in with the clock and to put the "bottom" in the song. When I think of the many drummers I've played, with and the famous drummers I admire like Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, and many more, one of the badest drummers is RAH. We've been close friends for over twenty years! Introducing you to RAH and his music has me so "gas...