By, Vanessa Elder
Allow me to share with you some of guitarist, Dave Elder’s traveling music career with accolades from Stevie Ray Vaughn, Les Paul, and Buddy Miles.
In the year 1964, at a ripe age, Dave Elder was inspired to play music. He and his teenage buddies agreed, “Let’s get electric guitars and be ‘Beatles’!” He didn’t even know who the Beatles were yet, and at the time he thought an electric guitar was something you plugged directly into a wall. This makes sense, because knowing Dave, you know he is very agreeable and goes with the flow. He mentioned his desire to his grandmother, Celia, and soon she appeared with an electric guitar and an amp. From then on, he never stopped playing.
Dave solicited any skilled guitar player he saw, asking if they could teach him, acquiring many teachers through the years. A Jamestown peer, Neil Anderson, taught him classical techniques. Neil became an instructor at the Chautauqua Institution, and was a catalyst for Dave to connect personally with the legendary Chet Atkins. The three would hang out and play together at the Chautauqua Institution after Chet taught his masterclasses.
Fast forward a few years, it’s 1977 and Dave is traveling and performing across the country with his trio, “Chautauqua”, which did well. Dave contemplated moving to California, but decided to go back to Jamestown and plant some roots. In 1979, he auditioned for and was hired by the well-loved Buffalo group “The Road”.
at an early gig. Dave shredding with his signature headstock-free Steinberger
guitar , and his custom boogie amp behind him.
Among the fans of The Road was a fellow circulating musician, Vincent Michaels, of the Vincent Michaels Band. Vincent was also a recording artist, with a stellar set of professional recording tools and synthesizers. Dave was starting to produce music digitally, and so a convergence of talent and skill began when Dave and Vince started recording together. This technology was still in it’s infancy, a tedious, rewarding process. The future of recording, glimmering with promise. Dave soon joined The Vincent Michaels Band, which brought even more exciting experiences to light..
Recently, Vincent Michaels cited some compliments that were paid to Dave’s style and fretboard fluency.
Backstage after “The Vincent Michaels’ Band” (VMB) opened for “Stevie Ray Vaughn”, Stevie asked Vince, “Who’s that guy on the Strat, your lead player?”
Vince: “That’s Dave Elder.”
Stevie: “Man, that cat can play anything, I saw your whole set, and you guys rock.”
Vincent also recalls spending time with Les Paul, American Jazz guitarist and Luthier. Les was responsible for the rich sound that became popular in the 1950‘s with his innovations of the solid body electric guitar.
While showing Les some original recordings that Dave was featured on, Les asked Vincent “Who’s on guitar?”
Vince: “Dave Elder”
Les: “He’s good! What kind of guitar does he play?”
Vince: “A Steinberger and Fender Strat.”
Then Les, in his cheeky, ball busting way, “F him then!”
Vince: “No, no, no! Dave also has a Gibson Les Paul Recording Model, just like the one you use!”
Les: “I’m just B-S-ing, he’s really good. Great taste and tone!”
Another compliment was paid by Buddy Miles, drummer for Jimi Hendrix, who VMB opened for in 1983. Buddy Miles told Vince after the show, “Great guitarist you have there.” and asked if he could steal Dave to come tour with Buddy’s band! Buddy was disappointed when Vince broke news that Dave had months of gigs booked ahead, it was a no go.
In 1985 Dave left the “Vincent Michaels Band”, and “The Party Squad” was born. Joe Rozler on keys, Marc Dixon on drums, and later keyboardists Rick McGirr and Nelson Starr. All members of the band, and the band itself were inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame between 1990-1993. (In order to be inducted to the BMHOF you must win the category for 3 consecutive years, then the 4th year players are inducted.)
In 1993, Dave’s home studio, SOUNDbyte Music Creations was established. A pioneer of the digital audio workstation, Dave continues to play, sing, arrange, and produce today.
Dave’s newest venture is Rabbit Jaw, with shape shifting vocalist Erin Bahn (attorney and Bolshevik ballerina), Bob Price on drums, and bassists Mark Warner Hunt and Larry Smith.
If you ask Dave Elder what he does for work, he says “I get to play!” He currently resides in Buffalo, NY and teaches guitar at Nardin Academy, as well as privately. Catch him in his spare time riding his bicycles, enjoying fine fare (a slice of pie from Dina’s) and drinking wine.