Dave Thomas May (Keyboards/Vocals) - David Thomas May was born in Paterson, NJ and raised in Little Falls, New Jersey. He started playing piano at the age of 3 1/2 and has never stopped studying. His most important teachers were his parents, Mr. Joe Romanchak, Mr. Nick Colavito and Mr. Gary Kirkpatrick. His first public performance was marked at the age of 5 at a Little Falls Elementary School Holiday Concert. In 1978, David won the Garden State (now PNC Bank) Arts Center "Talent Exposition" for solo piano performance. He attended Little Falls Schools and Passaic Valley Regional H.S. graduating in 1978. He received a full scholarship for Piano studies in college and earned his BA in Music Education at William Paterson College in 1982. He has since been teaching, performing, composing, arranging, & recording music when and wherever he can. He has recorded and composed over 75 songs, commercial jingles, sound tracks, and has appeared and recorded on many other music artists' albums and CD's, including 4 of his own.
Dave is presently the director of Music & Performing Arts for Burlington City High School, and has been awarded the Burlington County / New Jersey Governor's "Teacher of the Year" Award twice in 1993 &1999. The music program at Burlington City High School over the past 20 years has garnered many awards for musical excellence in performance and for presentation of quality student developments both artistically and academically. In 2001 Dave earned recognition from The GRAMMY ASSOCIATION & THE GRAMMY AWARDS when he was selected with the Burlington City H.S. as one of Americas” top 50 GRAMMY SIGNATURE SCHOOLS in the country. Dave was also honored in 2003 by being selected as New Jersey's representative as one of the 50 Outstanding Music Directors for High School Music in The UNITED STATES of AMERICA by Band Director magazine.
Dave enjoys a busy freelance career as a pianist/keyboardist for local, national, & internationally recognized music acts. Dave has performed before 4 U.S. Presidents and has performed with Peter Nero and the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra. He has appeared on stage with, or opened up in concert for such artists as Earth, Wind & Fire, Tony Bennett, Randy Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber, Maynard Ferguson, Denis DiBlasio, Ron Kerber, The Beach Boys, Blood Sweat and Tears, Mr.Charlie Thomas & The Drifters, Mr. Dick Clark, Danny & The Juniors featuring Joe Terry, Mr. Roy Gaines, and a host of others. Dave was the stage musical director for the DOVELLS (the 1960's dance group with their hits "The Bristol Stomp" & "You Can't Sit Down.") He also appeared playing piano and keyboards with Joe Piscopo in his reunion stage show featuring Saturday Night Live Alumni Victoria Jackson and Father Guido Sarducci where he received rave reviews for his musical contributions.
THE"DTM"project is Dave's contemporary Jazz & R&B group which he created in 2000. The group blends original compositions and great american songbook standards with their deep talents for improvisation and group arranging to create new and unique performances that are refreshing and vibrant. Dave has released his 4th CD entitled "A Decade Later" which is a Greatest Hits Collection and displays the wide vision of his ability to offer diverse jazz and society style piano and keyboards from contemporary smooth jazz to R&B sounds, to moving traditional sounds, blues and swing!
Dave also had the distinct honor of being known as the Philadelphia Flyers Organist up until this season. As the Flyers' "KEYPLAYER" you would find him playing the organ at every home game, revving up the Flyer faithful with chants of Let's Go Flyers!
Now, Dave moves into his next role as the newest member of SOSCTB. Dave brings a portion of his musical life full circle with this invitation to join the group. "The first record album I ever bought with my own money was CHICAGO 5", Dave states, "I still own that vynyl along with every other Chicago Album or CD". "They were my favorite group growing up, in fact, the first "garage band" I ever played in (8th grade) was a Chicago focused band with the horns to boot ! " Dave is thankful for the blessing of being given this opportunity to be a part of the band and looks forward to some great musical experiences with the band and their fans! Hopefully.... It's Only The Beginning.......
Dave is presently the director of Music & Performing Arts for Burlington City High School, and has been awarded the Burlington County / New Jersey Governor's "Teacher of the Year" Award twice in 1993 &1999. The music program at Burlington City High School over the past 20 years has garnered many awards for musical excellence in performance and for presentation of quality student developments both artistically and academically. In 2001 Dave earned recognition from The GRAMMY ASSOCIATION & THE GRAMMY AWARDS when he was selected with the Burlington City H.S. as one of Americas” top 50 GRAMMY SIGNATURE SCHOOLS in the country. Dave was also honored in 2003 by being selected as New Jersey's representative as one of the 50 Outstanding Music Directors for High School Music in The UNITED STATES of AMERICA by Band Director magazine.
Dave enjoys a busy freelance career as a pianist/keyboardist for local, national, & internationally recognized music acts. Dave has performed before 4 U.S. Presidents and has performed with Peter Nero and the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra. He has appeared on stage with, or opened up in concert for such artists as Earth, Wind & Fire, Tony Bennett, Randy Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber, Maynard Ferguson, Denis DiBlasio, Ron Kerber, The Beach Boys, Blood Sweat and Tears, Mr.Charlie Thomas & The Drifters, Mr. Dick Clark, Danny & The Juniors featuring Joe Terry, Mr. Roy Gaines, and a host of others. Dave was the stage musical director for the DOVELLS (the 1960's dance group with their hits "The Bristol Stomp" & "You Can't Sit Down.") He also appeared playing piano and keyboards with Joe Piscopo in his reunion stage show featuring Saturday Night Live Alumni Victoria Jackson and Father Guido Sarducci where he received rave reviews for his musical contributions.
THE"DTM"project is Dave's contemporary Jazz & R&B group which he created in 2000. The group blends original compositions and great american songbook standards with their deep talents for improvisation and group arranging to create new and unique performances that are refreshing and vibrant. Dave has released his 4th CD entitled "A Decade Later" which is a Greatest Hits Collection and displays the wide vision of his ability to offer diverse jazz and society style piano and keyboards from contemporary smooth jazz to R&B sounds, to moving traditional sounds, blues and swing!
Dave also had the distinct honor of being known as the Philadelphia Flyers Organist up until this season. As the Flyers' "KEYPLAYER" you would find him playing the organ at every home game, revving up the Flyer faithful with chants of Let's Go Flyers!
Now, Dave moves into his next role as the newest member of SOSCTB. Dave brings a portion of his musical life full circle with this invitation to join the group. "The first record album I ever bought with my own money was CHICAGO 5", Dave states, "I still own that vynyl along with every other Chicago Album or CD". "They were my favorite group growing up, in fact, the first "garage band" I ever played in (8th grade) was a Chicago focused band with the horns to boot ! " Dave is thankful for the blessing of being given this opportunity to be a part of the band and looks forward to some great musical experiences with the band and their fans! Hopefully.... It's Only The Beginning.......
Dave Thomas May Keyboards/Vocals
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CHICAGO 9
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