David Dowling, St. Augustine Singer/Songwriter
I was raised in the South Carolina Lowcountry, traveled widely in the 70s, and have made my home in Saint Augustine since 1980. I’ve been writing and performing my own songs for many years, but I’m also a devoted collector of obscure blues and country songs that – hopefully –you have never heard. (No, I don ’t claim them as my own…..although I probably could!) I was brought up around an abundance of great story-tellers, and will never get that out of my system – good!
I’ve always been a tad addicted to buffoonery and eccentricity, but I can cause myself to become serious at times. I believe that there is a consistent strain of optimism in my work….I find no value in whining or bringing people down.
I’ll play almost any kind of gig – clubs, festivals, house concerts, schools, retirement homes, roadhouses, yacht clubs, liars’ clubs, insane asylums, fish camps, oyster roasts, sidewalks, weddings, funerals, elopements…….guess you can say I truly love this peculiar life I’ve chosen. I’m honored to carry on this ancient troubadour tradition. I’ve had many inspiring examples and mentors to follow and to learn from.
Since the 1970s I’ve performed in schools of all sorts, and for all grades. Lately, I’ve enjoyed working with Special Ed students here in northeast Florida. I’m planning to get more involved with schools in 2009 and the coming years. I give presentations on American, British Isles, and African traditional music. Sometimes we just have fun and do silly songs. At times the students and I make up our own spontaneous songs. Please pass this on to the schools in your neighborhood. Unfortunately, much funding for the arts is limited nowadays, but remember that PTO's and PTAs often have money budgeted for such programs.
My basic instruments are acoustic guitar, mouth harp, and kazoo, but I also play the string bass, banjo, penny whistle, and button accordion.
Usually I’m a solo performer, but I’ve always had many talented – and adventurous – friends who join me for duos, trios, and other impromptu bands.
QUOTES:
“A deft melding of acoustic, country, and folk with recurring themes of travel, family, and living life fully……….a warm catchy album with 20 superior songs.”
Dirty Linen magazine, reviewing “Two Town Man.”
“His lyrics touch on those things in life we all have in common, from the sublime to the ridiculous. He’ll leave you laughing and crying at the same time.”
Central Florida Chapter of Friends of Florida Folk & Leu Gardens.
It’s been about three years since Dave Dowling has left his St. Augustine home to visit South Florida. A Lowcountry native, few singer/songwriters from the southeast have captured the character of their culture and lifestyle the way Dave has. With a light drawl and a rolling guitar rhythm, everything he looks at, whether in his culture or others, is from his own unique perspective.
If he’s talking about a “Jumpstart”, you also hear about the kind of car it’s on (“this old jalopy”), a gal, his daughters, and fresh shrimp from the creek. “Up in New York City” tells us about the note left by the guy who broke into his car and stole his beer and guitar.
The Lowcountry has a special feel and pace. Humidity, mosquitoes, open vistas of coastal marshland, lots of sunlight combined with hundreds of years of life and living of several cultures, you hear about them all in Dave’s words, songs and guitar. In “Tail Feathers Up” you are encouraged to do so despite lost fish, lost loves, lost lottos.
“Eat Fish”, “Rocknroll Wino”, “Great Lawzy Mercy” – a few more of his stories and you’ll feel like you’ve visited South Carolina
newsletter of The Folk Club of South Florida
Dowling’s folksy, homespun brand of soft spoken lyrical poetry and witty original songs should appeal to fans of singing storytellers like John Prine and Loudon Wainwright III.”
Connect, - Savannah, Georgia
The kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students certainly enjoyed hearing you play and sing for them last Thursday. I was impressed with your versatility on the different stringed instruments, and the students and teachers enjoyed your choice of songs. The demonstration of the different instruments used in folk music will help enhance our curriculum here at the school as our music teacher, art teacher, and faculty can refer to your assembly programs throughout the year when discussing related topics.
A Florida school principal
You are truly a gifted musician and a natural teacher. The children, chaperones and teachers enjoyed your presentations and learned about Appalachian music and instruments while being captivated by your songs, enthusiasm, and wit. We could have listened for hours!
A South Carolina teacher
Thanks for coming out to the school. The kids (and teachers) loved your show. I was told by more than one teacher that it was perfect for out kids. It was generous of you to let the children feel the instruments and ask questions afterwards. One student said that she thought it was going to be “for babies” but that it turned out to be “for everyone!”
A coordinator of cultural programs at The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
His simplicity is absolutely amazing.
A fan, quoted in the St. Augustine Record
Dowling’s folksy, homespun brand of softspoken lyrical poetry and witty original songs are mostly centered around his own life experiences as an entrepreneur, father, and general free spirit. Reminiscent of the style of the late Gamble Rogers, Dowling has a warm, engaging voice that lends an air of truth and experience to his original songs.
……………………………………………..
Comment from a House Concert promoter
Listens out of both ears!
Tomas Texino, Panama
A SAMPLING OF LYRICS:
I’ve played a thousand saloons
and somehow survived
I’ve played the whiskey bars, the juke joints,
and the low-down dives
I’ve played in your schools
I’ve played for wizards and fools
and I’ll sing and I’ll strum and I’ll howl
at the crazy ol’ moon.
from Somehow Survived
Roll the dice, life ain’t fair
Sometimes seems that God don’t care
But keep the faith boy, fill your cup
Gotta keep them tail feathers up!
from Tail Feathers Up
Throw away those steaks and pork chops– eat fish!
bite into a magic potion - munch on creatures from the ocean……
…….don’t be like the average wimp, a man like you should feast on shrimp!
Eat fish!
from Eat Fish
You can’t play possum when you’re listenin’
You can’t play stupid when you’re smart
You can’t play cosmic when you’re flipped out
You can’t play kickball with my heart!
from Kickball
She lived there beneath the papaya trees
with her books and her beads and her dungarees
while the slow silhouettes of little boys tossed nets
at the soft sunset………
from By a Blue Lagoon
I remember slicked-back hair and souped-up cars
transistor radio – learnin’ licks on cheap guitars
readin’ Mad Magazine – cigarettes and soda pop
rock n’ roll – oh my soul – we’d rock n’ roll until we dropped!
from Movie Matinee
I love my van, I always try to give her
a filled-up tank before the St. Mary’s River
the devil went to Daytona for the spring break bash
but the devil drove to Georgia………to save a little cash!
from Georgia Gas