David studied ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, Seattle, and guitar at Berklee College of Music, Boston, before receiving a BA from California State University, Hayward in classical guitar performance and an MA in composition. He has recorded with Tito Puente, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo Orchestra, John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Wayne Wallace and Rhythm and Rhyme, Deems, Jesse Manibusan, Aaron Arinita, and Nikita Germaine and has performed in music videos and film. Additional performances include Lou Rawls, Louie Bellson, Dianne Schuur, Carlos Santana, Eddie Fisher, Faye Carol, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Forty Niner Band, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, and Fred Berry as well as accompaniment for Frederica Von Stade. He has written scores for two PBS productions and charts for Ramsey Lewis. His teaching experience includes Stanford Jazz Camp, Jazz Camp West, San Quentin Prison, Oakland Unified Schools, Alameda Unified Schools, Caminade University, Hawaii Pacific University, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, and Maryknoll School in Honolulu. 

“My interest in music began in Seattle where I grew up hearing the Gospel music from the three churches that surrounded our family’s apartment building. In school, I had the good fortune to study with jazz band director James Gardiner and a private teacher Jerry Gray who influenced me greatly. James Gardiner led our jazz band to several national titles and inspired many great players. Jerry Gray taught many of the greatest players to come from the Seattle area. I am blessed to have studied with them.

After college I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I became involved with the music scene. “From me to You” was my first CD under my own name and Hawaii 5/4 is my latest release.

I owe a great deal to my wife Joan, all of my friends, and especially Ken Penalver R.I.P., who helped me to complete these projects.”

MAHALO