Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Favorite website

http://fotomechanix.com

Pittsburgh Connection

Life long resident. Nicknamed Smilin' Dave some years back, I hosted a variety of jam sessions until I felt comfortable enough to start up my own band. Currently The Jaminators are playing venues in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers

Gerald "Shotgun" Haymen; Phillip "Butch" Jones; Rodney McCoy; The Biggs Brothers. Kenny Blake, Roger & Norman Humphries, Spyder Rondinelli and Chismo Charles. No Bad Ju Ju; Warren King; Craig King; Gil Snyder and the list goes on and on.

Favorite Jazz Radio or media station

WYJZ was at one time when it was on the air but now it would have to be WDUQ for Jazz and WYEP for blues.

Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue

Howlers Coyote Cafe

About Me:

I attended Saint George's parochial school for twelve years and received drum lessons from Carl Gerald. Both were in the Allentown section of Pittsburgh. After high school, I studied Industrial Design at The Univ.of Cincinnati. My degree came from LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, PA. where I majored in Graphic Arts, which dealt heavily on process and creative photography. In 1989 I attended the SRV concert at Station Square and managed to get some fotos of the opening act, The Houserockers, with the skyline of Pittsburgh in the background. Later one evening at Excuses, I showed the foto to Joe Gruscheky. He put me in touch with DeCesar Engler Productions and for providing the band 20X28 enlargements, I would be given foto passes to shoot a few upcoming concerts; Deep Purple, Queensryche, Johnny Winter, and The Scorpions. Soon after, I would enter the 1992 Photomania Contest which was judged by Kodak, Pontiac and the Three Rivers Regatta Association. It's still hard to believe winning the grand prize; a 1992 Pontiac Grand Am! George Zambelli wanted to see the winning fireworks foto and I eventually worked for him for the next four years. Life hands you some ups, then came the downs. My separation in 94 and eventual divorce in 1999. My mother would get cancer in 96 and pass on in 97 and George Z would get cancer and die on Christmas Day some years later. Thanks to George and his faith in my work, I developed (with a little help from my friends) a web site in 95 originally called "FireWorks Thru The Cross." It contains stock photos patterned onto a cross which could be used as a testimonial, bookmarker or simply as a magnet. "Seein' the Blues" (the second half of this site) is unfinished, but someday I hope to include many of the concert photos that I've taken over the years. After photographing so many musicians and bands, I eventually set up my step-fathers kit in the attic. I practiced for a month and went to my first jam session Aug. 5th. 2001 at Moondogs. I'd like to add a special thanks to Sue and all the musicians at Howlers, especially Tim & Ron for hosting the jams for so many years. It's been eight years now and I realize how important it is to do what you love in this life. The nickname came from a few friends some years back. I unfortunately attended two of their funerals in 08 but what they left me wasn't just the nickname, but the encouragement to continue to do what I love. I've been with the USPS for over 22 years and with any luck, I'll retire and be healthy enough to play, but there are no guarantees. To all those who have had the time, many thanks for your patience, cooperation, encouragement and laughter.
Keep Smilin'
PS: For additional fotos and videos see; pghlivemusic.ning.com/profile/smilindave

Website:

http://pghlivemusic.ning.com/profile/smilindave

Artist or Fan

artist, fan