david moore
I’m not sure what initially sparked my interest in acoustic guitar. I remember when I was five or six and seeing an acoustic guitar in the window of a music shop. I immediately asked my parents to buy it for me (it was ONLY $10.00!!). Given how I had treated my first bicycle, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised they didn’t buy me the guitar. When I was 15 my parents did buy me an electric bass. Although I played baritone in the high school band, it just didn't have the sex appeal that a rock band does. The kid who lived next door was the world’s best drummer. My friend from down the street played guitar, so we needed a bass player to complete the trio. We were going to be better than Rush! Geddy Lee never called to ask for playing tips. After brief stints in several bands, four and a half year of college, marriage and two years of grad school I slid the bass under my bed and didn't play music for a couple of years. When I was 27 my parents were preparing to move into a new house. Buried in the back of a closet was an old acoustic guitar that my mother had given my father years before. My father asked if I wanted the instrument. I took the guitar home and proceeded to beat on it hoping that something good would happen. Surprisingly enough, nothing good happened. However, I did meet another frustrated musician during my time at Bank of America named Darrell Esch. We formed a duo called Mr. Drysdale. Darrell played guitar and sang while I played bass (and tried VERY unsuccessfully to sing). Soon after Rob Stevens joined up. Rob added an additional guitar as well as a studio. We recorded our first CD. No Grammy nominations resulted. The band added a drummer and also took a turn towards a more hard edged sound. I was getting much more interested in acoustic music, so we parted ways. Mr. Drysdale produced two more CDs (I did play bass on a couple of tracks of their second CD) and are still an ongoing concern in Charlotte, NC. Rob quit his day job, bought some commercial space in downtown Charlotte and started Left of the Dial studios. If you're in the area and looking to record, definitely check him out. During my stint with Mr. Drysdale I decided to upgrade to a more premium acoustic guitar. While perusing guitars at a local music store in Charlotte, NC I met a gentleman who was willing to explain some of the basics about the acoustic guitar to me. He also took me under his wing, and I became one of his students. Three years later a job change took me to Raleigh, but I’ll never forget all that he taught me. Thanks Stan!! The demands of life and work coupled with an adventurous spirit have landed us in the Bay Area of California. Despite the fact that we've moved to new cities and met new people, I'll always be able to bring my guitar and music with me. Every day is a new adventure in trying to figure out how to make this six string beast sound good.