|  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | Bio of the Artist | During the great feasts and special functions held on the traditional marae of
David's home area of Wairoa, all the young boys of his age were roped into helping with kitchen and cleaning duties mostly. Those who have actually experienced these activities know the huge amount of effort that goes into catering for visitors and families alike and everyone is expected to chip in.
Not David.
There just wasnt enough fun in it.
In order to dodge the "menial" chores undertaken by his contemporaries David would linger at the front of the marae where all the formal speech-making, story-telling, dancing and singing was going on. Before long the history, the geneologies, the culture, the rhythms and rhymes of his Maori heritage started to sink in and stick in his mind. Luckily he appreciated his learning experiences and started to expand on what he was taught.
If there is anything to describe David's style of music you need to meet the man; rootsy, rythmic, rallying, restful and sometimes raw. Be prepared to laugh loud and long for "thats how our old people looked at life."
When he is wailing away on his electric guitars is when he is portraying the pain of his ancestors in their sacrifice to make a better place for their mokopuna (grandchildren).
Listen to his acoustic guitar work and you might pick out the sounds of the bush, the rivers, the lakes, the birds, even the mountains speak through him.
You'll never hear ukulele played in the style he does unless you happen to be on the big island of Hawaii.
But if you just want to "chill", the lap steel guitar played in the Hawaiian style is probably your best selection.
David is definitely not pop! But he can rock and wail. Meet the man through his music, you'll get the picture.
From 1987 through to 2000, David was a mainstay Artist-in-Education and became highly sought after by South Australian, Tasmanian, New South Wales and Queensland Arts Councils. Touring for sometimes forty weeks of every year his two person show "Journey to Paradise" and solo shows "Hang Loose Papa Goose" and ELUA!, were received by as much as 40,000 students, parents and staff. For the remote areas of Torres Strait, Mornington Peninsula, Birdsville, Weipa and Palm Island a single engined Cessna became his home and trusty transportation. For these very special performances David became story-teller, dancer, musician and historian all rolled into one one-hour performance of Maori and Polynesian culture. Gruelling and difficult living conditions at times but so very satisfying show experiences where interaction with children as well as local elders prevailed and cross cultural exchanges became highly valued by both sides.
It was at these performances where the ukulele, slack-key guitar and lap steel guitar moved whole audiences; which in some cases happened to be whole communities. | | |
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