Press Kit
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“Mr. Dowling provides music therapy to my Exceptional Needs class at Allen Nease High School. Through the VSA arts program of Florida, Mr. Dowling exposes my students to various genres of music (rock, country, folk, blues and show tunes). He also brings in several instruments for the students to play. The students really respond to Mr. Dowling’s laid back demeanor, humorous stories, and of course his guitar playing. All the students love having an actual musician play music for them.”
David R. Hill
NBCT ESE
Allen D. Nease High Schoo
St Augustine Record Write up 6-14-07
Original songs and music will be on stage next week in uptown St. Augustine during a CD release concert.
According to the St. Johns Cultural Council, local songwriter Dave Dowling grew up as a "low-country boy" with a love for old music and new experiences. He moved to St. Augustine more than 20 years ago and has been a regular performer as a solo act and with bluegrass groups Salt Run and the Old City Farmers ñ and now with his new band, The St. Augustine Ramblers.
Dowling, who performs with guitar and harmonica, is a prolific songwriter with recordings of his original material. Joining him in the Ramblers are Jim Brady (recently of Nashville) on guitar, dobro and vocals, and Shari Sax on saxophone, flute and vocals.
"I came to town in the spring of 1980, crossed the Bridge of Lions one morning and beheld the magical Spanish town of St. Augustine. I found The Milltop Tavern and the great songwriter Don Oja Dunaway, seeing my guitar cases, offered the stage and an hour later, I had plenty of free beer, sandwiches, a bucket of money, lots of new friends and a gig for the next week," Dowling said. "I knew I had found my town, and I continue to play the Milltop -- my favorite room in the world."
Dowling was once a deejay at Flagler College Radio, WFCF, the first year the station was started. His show, "None of the Above," was on air for one year. When Dowling first came to town, he became friends and picked with the late Gamble Rogers. The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is now an annual event held each May in St. Augustine.
" The most important highlight, of course, was becoming friends with -- and picking with -- the great, late Gamble Rogers. What a marvelous human being he was. He and my departed stepfather, G.G. Dowling, were easily the two most important mentors in my life. I don't think I'll ever stop writing about them ," Dowling said.
Hear music from his latest recordings at a special concert, getting under way around 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at The Jester's Court, 123 San Marco Ave., uptown St. Augustine, near the Mission of Nombre de Dios.
