Jazz vocalist David Gonzalez

Biography

Gonzalez, David, vocalist; b. San Francisco, CA, 30 January 1944. Born to first generation San Franciscans of Mexican heritage (Hector Astudillo Gonzalez, 1919-1985 and Alicia Westphal Gonzalez, 1921-1967) and father to Thomas and Miguel, grandfather to Stella, Ilana, Tirza, Tatum and Tain, first began singing in front of audiences at family functions at 3 years of age. While being nurtured by the sounds of Ellington, Basie, Goodman, ect., and alternately the music on Sunday mornings from the Mexican radio programs (everything from John Phillip Sousa to Jorge Negrete) emanating from the old Philco, David assimilated a broad range of musical styles in the jazz and latin curriculum(s) thanks to his parents love of music. David formed his own and sang in other groups while in Jr. High School (Everett) and in High School (Polytechnic).  His first professional gig was in 1961 at a place on Polk St. in San Francisco called the Travel Agency. After combining performing and studies at City College of San Francisco and parenthetically, San Francisco State University (plus a stint with the U.S. Army), David became a fixture in popular nightclubs (Zanzibar, The Library, Lucky 13 Club, Rolands, Milestones, Mister E's, Jazz at Pearls, Bach Dynamite & Dancing Society, Shenanigans, Gullivars ect.) as well as performing at all the major hotels throughout the San Francisco bay area. David is also known for his original lyrics.  He has also written lyrics for music composed by Chick Correa (La Fiesta), Mark Levine (Linda Chicana), Cal Tjader (Leyte), Charlie Balckwell (Chile Con Soul), etc. David was the founder and executive producer of the 1st San Francisco Latino Jazz Festival (1997) and was one of the celebrants in the historic picture in front of San Francisco City Hall featuring the Bay Area Giants of Jazz recently featured in Downbeat Magazine (1999). Some of the musicians David has performed with include:  Vernon Alley, Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, Coke & Pete Escovedo, John Rae, George DiQuattro, Smith Dobson, Bob Kindred, Babatunde Lea, Curt Moore, Al Molina, Vince Lateano, Bruce Forman, Eddie, Carlos & Manny Duran, Colin Bailey, Flip Nunez, Larry Vuckovich, Larry Dunlap, Al Plank, Frank Passantino, Jeff Chambers, Scott Steed, Ruth Davies, Mark Levine, Michael Spiro, Paul Distel, Al Zulaica, Willis Colon, Al Bent, Glen Pearson, Fred Randolph, Tod Dickow, David Matthews, Ray Obiedo, Armando Perazza, Rudy Salvini's Big Band and with New Orleans musicians, Bob French, Gerald French, Wendell Brunious, Charlie Miller, Darrel “Sugar Bear” Francis, Thaddeus Richard, Richard Moten, Lawrence Sieberth, Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown, Eric Robinson, ect. .  He has also shared the stage with vocalists Denise Perrier, Madeline Eastman, Bobbe Norris, Mark Murphy and Gail Dobson

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MUSIC Album: David Gonzalez Meridian CDs: David Gonzalez Jazz Mex............ David Gonzalez Jazz Gumbo (Recorded in New Orleans)

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