Dave Rodway was 4 when he started “drumming” on pots and pans on his mother’s kitchen floor, in Spring Valley, New York.

At age 5, after seeing Ringo Starr play drums with the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, Dave knew he had to be a drummer. After a serious begging campaign, he got his first "real" kit when he was eight, and he has never looked back. He pounded that kit day and night.

As a teenager, Dave spent hours listening to jazz, classical, rock, and pop. He pored over the playing styles of rock and jazz greats like John Bonham, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Steve Gadd, and Buddy Rich, teaching himself how to play the music he loved. He avidly absorbed his idols’ tricks and techniques, tapping them out over and over on his kit in his bedroom, until his parents insisted he move the drums to the basement. He later realized that self-instruction was only the basis for true skills, and that he could benefit from the influence of a mentor. So he sought out and studied with renowned professional drummer and session player Gary Chester. He was Chester’s student for 6 years.

Dave began playing with bands as he got older, and developed his live drumming chops in clubs on the lower east side of New York City. He drummed at CBGB, the Pyramid Club, the China Club, Limelight, the Milk Bar, Area, The Dive, Kenny’s Castaways (one booking included a surprise appearance by Jaco Pastorious), and many, many more.

Dave has played all over the United States, and has toured in Europe. He has lived in New York, Virginia, New Mexico, and California. His bands have shared the stage with acts like the Butthole Surfers, the Smithereens, Soul Coughing, Living Colour, Jane County, Pierce Turner, Hi-Fi Tie, The Hillbilly Peckers, and many other seminal NYC bands.

Dave continues to play professionally in jazz combos and rock and pop bands, and has parlayed his vast experience into a teaching career. He works with everyone from children to adults, developing individualized curriculum for each student, emphasizing fundamentals, technique, and style. He gives stick-twirling seminars upon request.


Career highlights:

• Played and toured North America and Europe with Polygram recording artist Gregg Swann

• Appearance with Gregg Swann on Star Search

• Recorded with Lyrical Whips

• Played with Sony recording artists Splatter

• Played with The Soul Assassins, who routinely played large venues seating 2,000-50,000,
   opening for the Butthole Surfers at the Hash Bash, the Boston Freedom Rally, and the Midwest Harvest Festival.

• Played with High Desert Pipes & Drums

• Played with Ileana Burdine

• Played with Big City Reign

• Played with Holly Dunn

• Played with Joe Wood & The Lonely Ones

• Played with Trunk Monkey

• Played with Two of us Plus One

• Played with Willie Nelson tribute band Left Coast Willie


See Dave Playing:

@ House of Blues, San Diego

@ US Open Surfing Competition

@ Hensley’s Flying Elephant

@ Google "Dave Rodway drumming"



Find Dave:

Facebook: David C. Rodway

Twitter: DaveRodway

MySpace: davedadrumma

email: drumhair@gmail.com

Call: (760) 712-6137


Dave is available for performing, teaching, touring and recording.