Dave was an innovator. He was the first person I ever encountered who played a midi guitar. He was talking about using it for the KT reunion tour/show that was being discussed at that time (late 1980's) and I think Shane was apalled at the idea. But if not for Dave's fascination with the obscure and his bent for experimentation the KT probably would have ended up as just another bar band. Dave was the musical genius behind most of the group's arrangements and he was the only one in the group who actually learned to read music. Bob and Nick are natural talents and never bothered to learn much of the technical stuff. In fact, Nick only knows chords by such names as "Cowboy" and "Calypso", which actually identify the key and the basic chord progression. I think if you asked Bob to play a "C" or "G" chord he would know that, but often when learning new stuff we had to coach him by showing him where to place his fingers. Dave learned all that stuff and even taught himself (with some help from Pete Seeger) to play banjo, developing his own unique style. Obviously the group survived his departure and even continued to have hits, but John always lived in Dave's shadow and I think felt somewhat intimidated by the shoes he was asked to fill. And by the time John joined the group they were well-established and had the promotional support of Capitol to continue riding the wave of popularity. I enjoyed Dave's "Up & In" album, but to me it bore more relationship to the Whiskey Hills Singers than to the KT. And that may be a rusty memory - I haven't listened to it in awhile. I'm going on a hunt for it right now. The one thing that does stand out in my memory was Cyrus Faryar's saw playing on "Scotch & Soda". Something this Tool Boy can relate to!
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