Born in El Paso, Texas, Dave attended college at U.T. El Paso, and narrowly missed attending law school in favor of the music business.

Dave played guitar in his first band 'Los Downbeats' in 1963 in El Paso and Juarez, just as The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Yardbirds invaded the USA. Dave moved to Austin and returned to music after college, playing Bass with 'Debbie Norad and Pure Country'. Dave also plays Standup Bass, jamming and recording with some of the most interesting musicians in Austin including Blaze Foley, Champ Hood, and Leti De La Vega, and on a regular basis at the Austin Outhouse, Thundercloud Subs, and the Sippin' and Singin' Supper sessions at the Old Threadgill's on North Lamar.

Dave is also an author and journalist, including writing Blaze's obituary for the Austin Chronicle when Blaze was killed on Mary Street.

Dave and Simon met in 1985 at Thundercloud subs, and Dave was drawn to the Roughcuts leader when Simon stepped in to save the day one cold winters jam. That night, the band could not continue playing after the drummer's snare drum split diagonally across the top. As the band was beginning to pack up, Simon recognized the show had to go on. Rather than warming his hands and drinking beer, Simon grabbed the bass tom tom, moved it into the snare position, and started drumming on the improvised kit. The show went on, the band rocked, and Dave was attracted to the 'can do' attitude.