Q: Is it true you were born with a harmonica in your mouth?
A: I don’t really remember, you know, I was so young at the time.
Q: What are your first musical memories?
A: Whatever I’d hear on the radio, I guess -- my folks weren’t very big on records. Moon River, syrupy jazz pop stuff. I remember hearing James Brown on the car radio, that was pretty cool. And of course, there was a lot of country music in the area.
Q: When did you first start playing?
A: I started drums when I was ten -- got a snare drum and cymbal for Christmas. My moment of glory was playing Wipeout at the school talent show, but mostly I just jammed with the kid next door. That all went out the window when I got into sports in high school.
Q: Then how’d you start playing harmonica?
A: By the end of high school, 1970 or so, the whole rock thing was going pretty strong, and I had some buddies that formed a band. I wanted to join, so I took up harmonica. It seemed like it could be learned pretty quickly.
Q: Did you take lessons? How’d learn to play?
A: I got Little Son Glovers Blues harmonica book. He’d mention certain players, and I’d go out and buy the records. Learned pretty much by copying.
Q: Who would you copy then?
A: Sonny Boy Williamson II. He had that long tone, very controlled. Through Sonny Boy, I got into early Muddy Waters and Little Walter. When I heard them I went “Wow. Not yet!” I’d also listen to modern guys like William Clarke and Tim Lofson.
Q: When did you start playing live?
A: We formed blues band in college that played every Thursday night for about a year. At Darbo’s Cafe in Litany, Kentucky. Those guys were great musicians. Though we might have drank a bit too much.
Q: So what’s the deal with Japan?
A: I came with the military the first time, got into what was happening here, then came back on my own a few years later. I met some great musicians, had a few memorable jam sessions, but basically I was just working and practicing.
Q: What got you started with chromatic harp?
A: Listening to Toots Thielsman and Stevie Wonder. Bought a book, and after about five years of practice I could finally start playing in front of people.
Q: What’s the story with Fat Chance?
A: We worked really hard at that band -- it just didn’t come together. Still, we learned a lot of songs, and wrote a lot of songs, too. As Slim Chance, though, things are really coming together.
Q: So where to from here?
A: I just want to play the funkiest blues in the world. Funky as I can play it, anyway. Expand the jazz end of things. Not necessarily more complex, just a different kind of musical thinking.
> DAVE'S EQUIPMENT
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