David Kalmusky
Encyclopedia
David Kalmusky is a record producer / mixer / guitarist, who's body of work is multiple Gold selling, Juno Awarded & Grammy nominated.
, was already 2nd generation musician. Son of saxophonist Jojo Kalmusky. Ken was the bassist for The Revols
in 1958, which became backup band for Ronnie Hawkins
, finally becoming The Hawks. Ken went on to work with Todd Rundgren
, Ian & Sylvia, Great Speckled Bird (band)
, Jerry Reed
, members of The Band
, and members of Janis Joplin
's Full Tilt Boogie Band
before his death due to cancer in 2005.
. This is where musicians like John Till
, (Janis Joplin
's guitarist) taught David his first chords on guitar, and his father Kenny, taught him about music, and recording. This place was host to musicians from The Band
, Hawkins, Joplin, whom were all interacting with David, a little boy that knew about microphone proximity, splicing tape, inductance, amps, guitars, consoles, eq, compressors and outboard gear, when most kids were playing with toy cars.
At age 6, David had a reel to reel, microphones, a tube amp, and a telecaster of his own in his bedroom. At 8 years old, his grade 3 "Show and Tell", was a cassette mix-down, of an instrumental blues song, performed by his father, Kenny Kalmusky on bass, John Till
on guitar, King Biscuit Boy
on harmonica (Muddy Waters
, Joe Cocker
), however Kalmusky could not recall who was on drums, when asked "What was your 1st gig" in an interview with Scene Magazine in the spring of 2002.
Davids parents divorced. The house with the back studio was sold, and David moved with his mother. His father, Kenny, continued touring on the road with several acts for well over a decade, returning to The Hawks several times. Kenny still remained a large part of David, and his sister's life.
At ages 10 through 15, David started, and participated in several local neighborhood bands, playing local venues around the Stratford area, opening shows for Lorena McKennit, Gowan
, Glass Tiger
, in bands including Black Pearl, and Lower Level. David's search for a recording studio to take these bands, led him to Canada Sound Recordings, in Listowel Ontario. Owner Bill Knapp, after very little time, hired David to be an engineer for Canada Sound Studios. At that time, Knapp's life long friend Greg Dechert, was out on tour with David Gilmour
(Pink Floyd
Guitarist). After about a year of Kalmusky working out of Canada Sound Studios, Knapp eventually raised Dechert's curiosity by continuously boasting of this 16 year old guitarist / engineer he had working at the studio.
David Gilmour
, stopped touring his solo records when he won the rights outright to use the name Pink Floyd
, (which was being contested by Roger Waters
). At this time Greg Dechert, and Jody Linscott
, (Dechert's common law wife and David Gilmour band mate), came to Canada to put a band together to record, and tour. Greg hired Bill Knapp on bass, who convinced Dechert to try out 16 year old David Kalmusky. Kalmusky tried out, and was offered the job.
Variations of this group recorded 2 albums worth of material, under the names The Greg Dechert Band, Nasty Habits, C4, and the band "Why" which was fronted by British pop singer Natasha England who'd worked for David Bowie
and Rod Stewart
, before hitting the UK top 10 with her own hit singles. None of this material was ever released. The band disintegrated after 4 years of recording several albums of material, line up changes, and promised record deals falling through. David is quoted in his online blog, talking about this time period, as saying …"Greg taught me how to be a Rock & Roll Guitarist. To plant my feet, dig in, and play with all my love for music, wrapped in the ego it takes, to push it over the top." - "During these years, I got to meet, and spend a little time with guys like David Gilmour
, Roger Daltrey
, John Entwistle
, Liona Boyd
, Richard Manuel
, Levon Helm
, and a ton of others. Just being in the same room as these people, set the stage, for me to realize the possibilities, entering into the music business, when I was just turning 20."
, Kat Dyson (Prince
), & Paul Jackson
(Michael Jackson
). The 7 page in depth interview, talks to all 4 guitarists about their influences, history, equipment, as well as projects Kalmusky is producing.
, Juno Awarded Group The Road Hammers
, Grammy nominated, USA Billboard #1 Charting group Emerson Drive
, David mixed and mastered iconic rock group Journey
's 2011 album Eclipse
for the band and legendary producer / mixer Kevin Shirley
(Aerosmith
, Iron Maiden
, Led Zeppelin
) , and spent the remainder of 2011 in the studio recording with Neal Schon
, Vince Gill
, Emerson Drive
, Carolyn Dawn Johnson
, Marlee Scott
, and dozens of other acts.
Lineage
David's father, Ken KalmuskyKen Kalmusky
Ken Kalmusky was a Canadian musician born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, to saxophonist Walter "JoJo" Kalmusky and Mary Kalmusky.-Early career:...
, was already 2nd generation musician. Son of saxophonist Jojo Kalmusky. Ken was the bassist for The Revols
The Revols
The Revols were a Canadian band from Stratford, Ontario, Canada, formed in 1957, with Richard Manuel on piano and vocals, John Till on guitar, Ken Kalmusky on bass, Doug Rhodes on vocals and Jim Winkler on Drums...
in 1958, which became backup band for Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
, finally becoming The Hawks. Ken went on to work with Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, Ian & Sylvia, Great Speckled Bird (band)
Great Speckled Bird (band)
Great Speckled Bird was a country rock group formed in 1969 by the Canadian musical duo Ian & Sylvia. Ian Tyson sang, played guitar and composed. Sylvia Tyson sang, composed and occasionally played piano...
, Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
, members of The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, and members of Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
's Full Tilt Boogie Band
Full Tilt Boogie Band
Full Tilt Boogie Band was a rock band originally headed by guitarist John Till and then by Janis Joplin until her death in 1970. The band was composed of Till, pianist Richard Bell, bassist Brad Campbell, drummer Clark Pierson, and organist Ken Pearson....
before his death due to cancer in 2005.
Early life
David grew up in his father's studio, which was the back half of their house in Stratford, OntarioStratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
. This is where musicians like John Till
John Till
John Till is a Canadian musician. Born in Stratford, Ontario, Till played in local bands until the early 1960s when he was picked to play in Ronnie Hawkins band The Hawks, to replace previous members who had left to tour with Bob Dylan...
, (Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
's guitarist) taught David his first chords on guitar, and his father Kenny, taught him about music, and recording. This place was host to musicians from The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, Hawkins, Joplin, whom were all interacting with David, a little boy that knew about microphone proximity, splicing tape, inductance, amps, guitars, consoles, eq, compressors and outboard gear, when most kids were playing with toy cars.
At age 6, David had a reel to reel, microphones, a tube amp, and a telecaster of his own in his bedroom. At 8 years old, his grade 3 "Show and Tell", was a cassette mix-down, of an instrumental blues song, performed by his father, Kenny Kalmusky on bass, John Till
John Till
John Till is a Canadian musician. Born in Stratford, Ontario, Till played in local bands until the early 1960s when he was picked to play in Ronnie Hawkins band The Hawks, to replace previous members who had left to tour with Bob Dylan...
on guitar, King Biscuit Boy
King Biscuit Boy
King Biscuit Boy was the stage name of Richard Alfred Newell a Canadian blues musician. He was the first Canadian blues artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.....
on harmonica (Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
), however Kalmusky could not recall who was on drums, when asked "What was your 1st gig" in an interview with Scene Magazine in the spring of 2002.
Davids parents divorced. The house with the back studio was sold, and David moved with his mother. His father, Kenny, continued touring on the road with several acts for well over a decade, returning to The Hawks several times. Kenny still remained a large part of David, and his sister's life.
At ages 10 through 15, David started, and participated in several local neighborhood bands, playing local venues around the Stratford area, opening shows for Lorena McKennit, Gowan
Gowan
Gowan can refer to:Sport:*Gowan Rugby, Ancient Mouri form of non contact rugbyPeople:* Peter Gowan, academic* Lawrence Gowan, a Canadian musician who used the stage name Gowan* Hunter Gowan, Irish Protestant politician and militiaman...
, Glass Tiger
Glass Tiger
Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band formed in 1983, in Newmarket, Ontario.-Biography:Originally named 'Tokyo', the band produced several hit singles in Canada and placed two songs on Billboard magazine's top 10: "Don't Forget Me " and "Someday," both of which came from their debut album, The Thin...
, in bands including Black Pearl, and Lower Level. David's search for a recording studio to take these bands, led him to Canada Sound Recordings, in Listowel Ontario. Owner Bill Knapp, after very little time, hired David to be an engineer for Canada Sound Studios. At that time, Knapp's life long friend Greg Dechert, was out on tour with David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
(Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
Guitarist). After about a year of Kalmusky working out of Canada Sound Studios, Knapp eventually raised Dechert's curiosity by continuously boasting of this 16 year old guitarist / engineer he had working at the studio.
David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
, stopped touring his solo records when he won the rights outright to use the name Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, (which was being contested by Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
). At this time Greg Dechert, and Jody Linscott
Jody Linscott
Jody Linscott is an American session musician and percussionist who resides in England and maintains an extended discography. She has two daughters and has written two children's books which were published by Doubleday, both edited by Jackie Onassis...
, (Dechert's common law wife and David Gilmour band mate), came to Canada to put a band together to record, and tour. Greg hired Bill Knapp on bass, who convinced Dechert to try out 16 year old David Kalmusky. Kalmusky tried out, and was offered the job.
Variations of this group recorded 2 albums worth of material, under the names The Greg Dechert Band, Nasty Habits, C4, and the band "Why" which was fronted by British pop singer Natasha England who'd worked for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, before hitting the UK top 10 with her own hit singles. None of this material was ever released. The band disintegrated after 4 years of recording several albums of material, line up changes, and promised record deals falling through. David is quoted in his online blog, talking about this time period, as saying …"Greg taught me how to be a Rock & Roll Guitarist. To plant my feet, dig in, and play with all my love for music, wrapped in the ego it takes, to push it over the top." - "During these years, I got to meet, and spend a little time with guys like David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
, Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
, Liona Boyd
Liona Boyd
Liona Maria Carolynne Boyd, LLD, D.Mus, CM, O.Ont, is a Canadian classical guitarist, composer, songwriter and singer. Boyd was born in London, England on July 11, 1949, moved to Canada with her parents when she was eight years old and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1975...
, Richard Manuel
Richard Manuel
Richard George Manuel was a Canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his contributions to and membership in The Band....
, Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
, and a ton of others. Just being in the same room as these people, set the stage, for me to realize the possibilities, entering into the music business, when I was just turning 20."
Guitarist
As a Guitarist, David has toured a large part of the world. In 2008 alone, David did shows, touring with The Wilkinsons, in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, USA & Canada. David was also featured in Canadian Musician Magazine, in their 2008 Guitar Edition, as one of the top guitarists in North America, along side of Nashville session player Jerry DouglasJerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas may refer to:*Jerry Douglas , actor, who was on The Young and the Restless for 25 years*Jerry Douglas, country/bluegrass musician*Jerry Douglas , director and writer of adult films such as, Score...
, Kat Dyson (Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
), & Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson may refer to:*Paul Jackson , British television producer*Paul Jackson , British video game publisher*Paul Jackson , English rugby league player...
(Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
). The 7 page in depth interview, talks to all 4 guitarists about their influences, history, equipment, as well as projects Kalmusky is producing.
Studio
David Kalmusky's body of work has been Gold & Platinum selling, USA Billboard #1 Charting, Grammy Nominated, Juno Awarded (Canadian equivalent of a Grammy), and has appeared in the top 10, consistently, for a solid decade. David has been Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Guitarist, some, or all of these duties, for acts including, 2x Grammy nominated group The WilkinsonsThe Wilkinsons
The Wilkinsons is a country music trio from Trenton, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, the group comprises lead singer Amanda Wilkinson, her brother Tyler Wilkinson, and their father, Steve Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons achieved success late in 1998 with the hit single "26 Cents", a Number One on the...
, Juno Awarded Group The Road Hammers
The Road Hammers
The Road Hammers was a Canadian Country music group composed of Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy and Chris Byrne. Formed by McCoy as a side project, the trio's music is influenced by 1960s and 1970s trucker music and Southern rock. Their first self-titled album included remakes of several classic...
, Grammy nominated, USA Billboard #1 Charting group Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive is a country music band founded in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 1995. The band is Brad Mates , Danick Dupelle , Mike Melancon , Dale Wallace , and David Pichette .Early on, the band found minor success in Canada, releasing two albums under the name of 12 Gauge, the first Open...
, David mixed and mastered iconic rock group Journey
Journey
Journey may refer to:* Travel* Road trip* Dodge Journey, a 2009 mid-sized "crossover" vehicle, the brand's first* Journeys, a shoe store brand owned by Genesco- Literature :* Journey , a 1989 historical novel by James Michener...
's 2011 album Eclipse
Eclipse (Journey album)
Eclipse is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Journey, and the second with Filipino lead singer Arnel Pineda. Penned by Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain with contributions from Arnel Pineda...
for the band and legendary producer / mixer Kevin Shirley
Kevin Shirley
Kevin Shirley is a music producer and mixer for many artists, such as the bands Journey, Iron Maiden, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Joe Bonamassa, Marya Roxx, Dream Theater, Tyler Bryant, Mr. Big, and Europe.-Biography:...
(Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
) , and spent the remainder of 2011 in the studio recording with Neal Schon
Neal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
, Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
, Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive is a country music band founded in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 1995. The band is Brad Mates , Danick Dupelle , Mike Melancon , Dale Wallace , and David Pichette .Early on, the band found minor success in Canada, releasing two albums under the name of 12 Gauge, the first Open...
, Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is a Canadian Juno Award winning country music singer-songwriter. Johnson first rose to fame by co-writing Chely Wright's 1999 Number One single, "Single White Female," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in September 1999...
, Marlee Scott
Marlee Scott
Marlee Scott is a country music singer/songwriter who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2004, Scott was the winner of Corus Entertainment's Rising Country Superstar Challenge, which led to a record deal with 306 Records and the release of her first album, Souvenir, in 2005...
, and dozens of other acts.