DAVID GARFIELD

 

BIOGRAPHY (courtesy with David Garfield's website)

1956 Born in Chicago on September 27th
1963 First piano lesson. Starts discovering the joys of music through radios, TV and friends.
1970 Moves to St. Louis

1974 Moves to L.A. and join his friend Richard Tokatz from St. Louis
1975 Meets the late great drummer Carlos Vega and founds the legendary fusion outfit Karizma
1976 First major recording on Willie Bobo's 'Tomorrow Is Here' (had done several low profile recordings prior to this one). Joins Freddie Hubbard band.
1977 Appears on Freddie Hubbard's album 'Bundle Of Joy'. First trip to Europe with Freddie Hubbard's band
1979 David tours with sax great Tom Scott as part of a line-up featuring Neil Stubenhaus (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Carlos Rios (guitar).

1979 is the year where David meets the late great Jeff Porcaro as well as long-time collaborator bassist Jimmy Johnson.

1982 Records demos for Michael Bolton's first solo album. DG will not appear on the official album but will later work with Bolton again.
1983 Founds Creatchy Productions and records Karizma's first album 'Dream Come True'. Albums with Hiroshima ('Third Generation')
1985 Albums with Brandon Fields ('Other Side Of The Story'), Anri ('Wave')
1986 Joins George Benson band as keyboards player and MD. 1st appearance at the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival with George Benson
Appears on Larry Carlton's 'Discovery' and releases Karizma's second album 'Cuba'

1987 Releases Karizma's third album 'All The Way Live'. Short US tour with jazz great Diane Reeves. Co-founder of the legendary fusion band Los Lobotomys with guitarist Steve Lukather and release their first and only album 'Los Lobotomys' featuring amongst others Lenny Castro, Jeff Porcaro, Will Lee and Brandon Fields.

1988 Founds the Creatchy Label. Second appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival (with George Benson). One-off gig with Larry Carlton @ NAMM (with Abe Laboriel Sr., Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather
1989 Appears on the Shocker Soundtrack for the Wes Craven movie featuring Mitch Pileggi (of X-Files fame). Releases Karizma's 'Forever In The Arms of Love'
1990 Albums with Michael Landau ('Tales From The Bulge', including playing, writing and production credits. The album will be re-released in 2001), Steve Tavaglione ('Blue Tav', including playing, writing and production credits. The album will be re-released in 1999), (Mona Bell ('Ahora'), Ratt ('Detonator'), Various artists ('Nova Collection '90'). Second appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival (with George Benson).
1991 Albums with Cher ('Love Hurts'), Phil Perry ('The Heart Of The Man'), Various artists ('Guitar Practicing'), Richard Elliott ('On The Town'). One-off gig with Michael McDonald (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers).
1992 Albums with Toolbox 'Toolbox' and 'More Toolbox' featuring Jimmy Earl, Michael O'Neill, Larry Klimas and Walfredo Reyes Jr.
1993 US & Europe tours with Oleta Adams/Luther Vandross (1993-1994)
1994 Appears on Steve Lukather's 'Candyman' album. The project evolves into a Los Lobotomys' 're-union' and the band embarks on a European tour that includes one concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival (David's 4th appearance).
1995 Founds Creatchy Records. Release an instructional video. Albums with Bangkok Blue ('Siamese Twins'), Stan Keiser ('Secret Island')

1997 Releases his first solo album 'I Am The Cat.. Man !'. Album with Michael O'Neill. Launch the company's website Creatchy.com.

Organizes and releases the 'Tribute To Jeff' album featuring a cast of 75 top studio musicians. Featured in a Modern Drummer article ('Different Views') about this project.

1998 Recording with Italian superstar Eros Ramazzotti. Meets Alex Ligertwood and starts a fruitful friendship & collaboration with the former Santana vocalist.

First Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.

1999 Appears (including playing, writing and production credits) on Larry Klimas' first solo album 'Retro-spect'. Tour with Natalie Cole (1999-2000).

2nd Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert).

2000 Re-joins George Bensons band as keyboard player and musical director. Tours with Karizma on the 'reunion' tour (two legs in Europe in April and October) with Vinnie Colaiuta, Neil Stubenhaus and Mike Landau. A live album featuring that line-up, entitled 'Document,' is released. Albums with Gregg Bissonette ('Submarine'), Carlos Cuevas ('Amores Cercanos'), Josie ('Unkunvenshunal Girl'), Various Artists ('Atmosphere : Natures Retreat').

Third Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.

2001 Album with Pauline Wilson ('Tribute', also producer). Tours with Natalie Cole in the summer. Releases Karizma's 'Lost And Found', a collection of unreleased tracks or different versions from those appearing on the official albums.

Fourth Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert

2002 Organizes and plays at the 10th Anniversary 'Tribute To Jeff' concert in Koblenz, Germany with a stellar line-up including Alex Ligertwood. Launch of www.davidgarfield.com.

Fifth Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.

2003 Releases 'Giving Back'. Fifth appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival (with George Benson). Featured on the DVD from Calamari. Plays the Newport Beach Jazz Festival with Michael Lington. Appears on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno backing Michael Bolton.

Organizes the sixth Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.

2004 Album with Michael Lington, appears on 'Hey You' from 'Stay With Me'. Sixth appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, this time with the Wave All Stars Band featuring Patti Austin, Rick Braun and Kirk Whalum. Gigs booked as Karizma in Denmark in July (w/ Alex Ligertwood, Will Lee, Steve Ferrone and Søren Reiff) and in Bulgaria in October (same line-up except for John Pena replacing Will Lee).

Seventh Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.

2005 Re-joins the George Benson band as keyboards player and Musical Director. Celebrates Karizma's 30th Anniversary by playing one week at the Motion Club in Japan. Plays the Playboy Jazz Festival with Luis Conte Band. Plays on, co-writes and co-produces 'Contigo Café' for Michael O'Neill's third solo album 'Funky Fiesta'. Produces/arranges/plays on a instrumental version of the hit 'Dance Dance Dance'. Releases an instructional book with Henry Brewer from the Musician's Institute.
Featured on the DVD from Emil Richards & Joe Porcaro's All Star Big Band 'Odd Men Out'. Karizma's version of 'Palladium' from 'Document' appears on 'Mysterious Voyages - A Tribute To Weather Report'. Article in Modern Drummer on Vinnie Colaiuta and Gregg Bissonette playing on 'Tune For Tony' off David's 'Giving Back'. Session for German artist Michael Schmidt.

Eighth Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.

Gets married to Patricia Carter, his long-time girlfriend who inspired the song 'Sweet PC' from 'Giving Back', on 10 September. Tours in Denmark in October with a re-united Los Lobotomys featuring original members Lenny Castro and Brandon Fields.
Releases David Garfield & Friends' 'Seasons Of Change' (featuring A. Laboriel and L. Conte), a latin flavored album originally recorded in 1992. Re-releases 'Tribute To Jeff' featuring vocal versions of 'Lowdown' and 'Babylon Sisters' with Alex Ligertwood (original versions were instrumental).

2006 Plays 'Another Star' with Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock at the 2nd Annual Grammy Jam in L.A. Plays in Detroit with Harvey Mason & Friends at a pre-Super Bowl party. Participates in various festivals of which the Playboy Festival. Lots of local gigs.
Writes, produces and arranges 'Pool of Friendship', the official anthem for LEN (European Swimming League - the governing body of 50 European Swimming Federations). Presents and plays 'Pool of Friendship' live at LEN's 80th Anniversary in Budapest.
Appears with Michael Bolton on the Ellen DeGeneres Show (NBC, 23 May). Sessions for legendary Smokey Robinson for two albums.

Ninth Carlos Vega Annual Birthday Memory Concert.