Album Notes

David HB Drake's Biography

DAVID HB DRAKE has been called "a gentle troubadour" and "elemental folksinger". His music is inspired by his voyages across Midwestern prairies and the waters of the Great Lakes. He has performed for more than twenty-five years in a wide variety of art forms for all ages. David was named "Folk / Acoustic Music Artist of the Year 2002" and "Family Performer of the Year 2001" by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry and the Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts 2001 Community Arts Development Award for service to the arts. The Folk Alliance Region Midwest presented the "Lantern Bearer" Life Achievement Award in 2003 and his KIDSTUFF album received a "Parents' Choice" award for outstanding children's music.

A native of Milwaukee WI, David has written more than 200 songs of the Midwest. They are frequently heard on Wisconsin Public Radio's "Simply Folk", Higher Ground", "Hotel Milwaukee" and on public radio networks across the nation including New York radio's "Woody's Children" and the nationally syndicated "Sing-Out Songbag." His songs appear on the albums of several Midwestern folksingers. In addition to his own music, David has a vast storehouse of songs at his fingertips. David's eclectic repertoire includes sea shanties and songs of the Great Lakes, Irish ballads, children's and family songs, environmental music, vintage tunes, novelty songs, traditional folk music and folk classics from the "sixties".

David is a regular performer at regional folk festivals, Irish Fest, Summerfest, Wisconsin State Fair, Old World Wisconsin, coffeehouses, colleges, community centers, libraries, and nature centers throughout the Midwest. He is also a frequent visitor to schools and elder care centers, where his WISCON-SING show, an official Wisconsin Sesquicentennial™ event, takes a musical walk through Wisconsin's history. David's HEARTLAND program presents the history of our neighbors "south of the border" in Illinois. David is frequently seen performing benefits for a wide spectrum of social causes including the "Living Activism" series raising funds for Native American food pantries, the "AIDS Walk", the WAMI children's music education effort, for Pier Wisconsin environmental education events, and for "Peace Action" events promoting social justice and world peace

David has been a professional dancer with Betty Salamun's DANCECIRCUS and the Milwaukee Ballet, actor, troubadour and swordsman with the "Ring of Steel" theatrical combat troupe, stage lighting designer, and minstrel. David has performed as part of Wisconsin's Heritage Ensemble. He has toured with "The Rose and Dragon", a trio performing sea-shanties and waterfront songs and "Sweet Survivor", a duo specializing in Seasonal and love songs. He is frequently seen at Milwaukee's Irish Fest as the roving Irish Minstrel, "Carrie O'Tunne." Living his dream, David served as shanty man on the movie tall ship "HMS Bounty". David has been both performer and crewman alongside Pete Seeger aboard the environmental ship "Clearwater". He currently serves as musical spokesman and music artist-in-residence / historian for the Wisconsin Lake Schooner Project's tall ship "Denis Sullivan" and Pier Wisconsin Maritime Center.

Website: www.davidhbdrake.com
For Sound Files of David's music visit www.cdbaby.com/all/dhbdrake