David Grisman
{{short description|American mandolinist, composer, and record label owner}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = David Grisman
| image = David-Grisman.jpg
| caption = Grisman in 2006
| alias = "Dawg"
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|3|23}}
| birth_place = Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Bluegrass|progressive bluegrass|folk|jazz fusion|Americana}}
| occupation = Musician, composer, record producer, label owner
| instrument = {{hlist|Mandolin|mandola|mandocello|piano|saxophone|vocals}}
| years_active = 1963–present
| label = Kaleidoscope, Horizon, Warner Bros., Rounder, Acoustic Disc
| associated_acts = Even Dozen Jug Band, Earth Opera, Jerry Garcia, Old & In the Way, Muleskinner, David Grisman Quintet, DGBX
| website = {{URL|dawgnet.com}}
}}
David Jay Grisman{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/900197992 |title=Bluegrass at the Beach |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 26, 2023}} (born March 23, 1945) is an American mandolinist. His music combines bluegrass, folk, and jazz in a genre he calls "Dawg music". He founded the record label Acoustic Disc, which issues his recordings and those of other acoustic musicians. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/ibma-announces-34th-annual-awards-nominees-and-recipients/| title=IBMA Announces 34th Annual Awards Nominees and Recipients |website=The Bluegrass Situation |date=July 19, 2023 |access-date=July 22, 2023}}
Biography
Grisman grew up in a Conservative Jewish householdBerkofsky, Joseph (June 16, 1995). [http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/1173/mandolin-playing-duo-plucks-tunes-from-jewish-past/ "Mandolin-Playing Duo Plucks Tunes from Jewish Past"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810120432/http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/1173/mandolin-playing-duo-plucks-tunes-from-jewish-past/ |date=August 10, 2014 }}, J. The Jewish News of Northern California; retrieved March 31, 2012. in Passaic, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic38-3-4/statmanm.html| title=Andy Statman - National Heritage Fellow|website=www.nyfolklore.org|access-date=May 3, 2018| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118201451/http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic38-3-4/statmanm.html| archive-date= January 18, 2018|df=mdy-all}} His father was a professional trombonist who gave him piano lessons when he was seven years old. As a teenager, he played piano, mandolin, and saxophone.{{cite web|last1=Ginell|first1=Richard S.| title=David Grisman|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-grisman-mn0000809396/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=3 May 2018}}
In the early 1960s, he attended New York University. He belonged to the Even Dozen Jug Band with Maria Muldaur and John Sebastian. He played in the bluegrass band the Kentuckians led by Red Allen, then in the psychedelic rock band Earth Opera with Peter Rowan. He moved to San Francisco, met Jerry Garcia, and appeared on the Grateful Dead album American Beauty. He played in Garcia's bluegrass band Old & In the Way with Peter Rowan and Vassar Clements.{{cite web|last1=Erlewine|first1=Stephen Thomas|title=Old & In the Way|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/old-in-the-way-mn0000461737/biography|website=AllMusic| access-date=3 May 2018}} When Grisman was 17 years old, he was invited on stage by Doc Watson to join him on mandolin for a rendition of “In the Pines”.{{cite journal|last1=Hatfield|first1=Stephen| title="Review: Doc & Dawg" (September–October 1997)| journal= No Depression| url=http://archives.nodepression.com/1997/11/doc-watson-david-grisman-doc-dawg/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003162522/http://archives.nodepression.com/1997/11/doc-watson-david-grisman-doc-dawg/|archive-date=October 3, 2012}}
Garcia named him "Dawg" after a dog that was following him while they were driving in Stinson Beach, California.{{cite news| url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100218-ENTERTAIN-2180301| title=The innovative David Grisman Quintet plays Portsmouth|last=Hislop|first=Christopher|date=February 18, 2010| work=SeacoastOnline|publisher=Dow Jones Local Media Group|access-date=February 18, 2010|url-status=live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100220170902/http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100218-ENTERTAIN-2180301| archive-date=February 20, 2010|df=mdy-all}}
"Dawg Music" is what Grisman calls his mixture of bluegrass and Django Reinhardt/Stéphane Grappelli-influenced jazz{{YouTube|P_lrTmLknNA|Live in San Francisco Stephane Grapelli}}, with special guest star David Grisman and his band (1982). as highlighted on his album Hot Dawg (recorded Oct. 1978, released 1979).Horizon SP-731 LP Jacket It was Grisman's combination of Reinhardt-era jazz, bluegrass, folk, Old World Mediterranean string band music, as well as modern jazz fusion that came to embody "Dawg" music.Quill, Greg, "Beyond the Pale, Creaking Trees build on common ground", Toronto Daily Star, February 10, 2005.
File:Bill Keith et al Courville (enhanced).jpg
Image:DGBX Delfest 2010.jpg on May 30, 2010.]]
In the 1970s, he started the David Grisman Quintet with Darol Anger, Joe Carroll, Todd Phillips, and Tony Rice. They released their eponymous first album in 1977 for Kaleidoscope Records and their second, Hot Dawg, two years later for Horizon Records, the jazz division of A&M Records. When the quintet recorded for Warner Bros. Records, the membership changed to include Mike Marshall, Mark O'Connor, and Rob Wasserman, with occasional guest appearances by jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
In the 1980s, Grisman formed the record label Acoustic Disc, which issued his recordings and those by other acoustic musicians.{{Cite web|last=Hitchcock|first=Paul|title=David Grisman|url=https://www.wmky.org/post/david-grisman|access-date=2021-05-03|website=www.wmky.org|date=August 13, 2020 |language=en}} The folk and bluegrass part of his personality emerged when he recorded with Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice, and Andy Statman.
Family
Grisman is married to Tracy Bigelow and was married twice before. He has three grown children: Samson, Gillian, and Monroe. Samson, a bassist and recording session musician living in Portland, often performs with his father.{{Cite web|date=2009-12-16|title=String master David Grisman to perform with latest edition of his bluegrass-fusion quintet|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/12/16/string-master-david-grisman-to-perform-with-latest-edition-of-his-bluegrass-fusion-quintet/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US}} Gillian, a filmmaker living in Novato, California, directed Grateful Dawg and the music documentary, Village Music: Last of the Great Record Stores.{{cite news|last1=Whiting|first1=Sam|title=Gillian Grisman's film 'Village Music'|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Gillian-Grisman-s-film-Village-Music-3922377.php|access-date=19 February 2015|publisher=SF Gate|date=October 7, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219112311/http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Gillian-Grisman-s-film-Village-Music-3922377.php|archive-date=February 19, 2015|df=mdy-all}}
Monroe Grisman, named for bluegrass music pioneer Bill Monroe, lives in Fairfax, California, and plays in the Tom Petty tribute band Petty Theft.{{cite news|author1=Dan Taylor|title=Petaluma's David Grisman gets back on road| url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/entertainment/3569740-181/petalumas-david-grisman-gets-back|access-date=March 5, 2015| work=The Press Democrat|date=March 4, 2015|location=Petaluma|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307142045/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/entertainment/3569740-181/petalumas-david-grisman-gets-back| archive-date=March 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}
File:Mandolin Symposium Aug 2004 Backstage John Paul Jones David Grisman Monroe Grisman Chris Thile Mike Marshall.jpg, David Grisman, Monroe Grisman, Chris Thile, and Mike Marshall]]
In media
File:Amazing David Grisman, Chris Thile, Enrique Coria Winterhawk (Greyfox) Bluegrass Festival 1998.webm and Enrique Coria at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in 1998]]
Grisman's song "Dawggy Mountain Breakdown" was the opening theme song for Car Talk on NPR.{{cite web|url=http://www.cartalk.com/content/music-show-4|title=Car Talk: Music on the Show|publisher=cartalk.com|access-date=March 17, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326180837/http://www.cartalk.com/content/music-show-4|archive-date=March 26, 2016|df=mdy-all}}
Grisman sued YouTube in May 2007, asserting in federal court that YouTube should be required to prevent individuals from illegally uploading recordings of his music.{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517035234/http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_5899836| archive-date=May 17, 2007| url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_5899836| title=YouTube hit with another lawsuit| publisher=Contra Costa Times| date=May 15, 2007| access-date=December 22, 2012}} Grisman's attorneys requested voluntary dismissal of the suit.{{cite web |author=Steve Bryant |url=http://gigaom.com/video/youtube-lawsuits-a-roundup/ |title=YouTube Lawsuits: A Roundup — Online Video News |publisher=Gigaom.com |date=August 6, 2008 |access-date=June 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604052423/http://gigaom.com/video/youtube-lawsuits-a-roundup/ |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}
The documentary Grateful Dawg (October 14, 2001) chronicles the friendship between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=James|title=Dawg days / David Grisman's daughter makes film about his bluegrass partnership with Garcia|url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Dawg-days-David-Grisman-s-daughter-makes-film-2872172.php|access-date=19 February 2015|publisher=SF Gate|date=2 October 2001|url-status=live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150219112044/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Dawg-days-David-Grisman-s-daughter-makes-film-2872172.php|archive-date=February 19, 2015|df=mdy-all}}
Grisman was a judge for the 6th and 7th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |title=Past Judges |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024722/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |df=mdy }}
He wrote much of the bluegrass music for the 1974 film Big Bad Mama directed by Roger Corman. It was played by the Great American Music Band, and they were recorded and mixed by Bill Wolf.Big Bad Mama entry in [http://tcgdd.freeyellow.com The Compleat Grateful Dead Discography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613233652/http://tcgdd.freeyellow.com/ |date=June 13, 2015 }}
Discography
{{Main article|David Grisman discography}}
Acoustic Disc
{{anchor|Acoustic Disc label|Acoustic Disc}}
{{Infobox record label
| name = Acoustic Disc
| image_size = 200px
| founded = {{start date|1990}}
| founder = David Grisman
| genre = Jazz, folk, bluegrass
| country = U.S.
| location = San Rafael, California
| url = {{URL|acousticdisc.com}}
}}
Acoustic Disc is an independent record label founded by Grisman in 1990. The label is based in San Rafael, California, and specializes in bluegrass, folk, jazz, and Dawg music.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.dawgnet.com/ Dawg.net] Dave Grisman/Acoustic Disc official website
- [http://www.musicbox-online.com/grisman.html David Grisman at The Music Box Collection of reviews]
- [http://www.deaddisc.com/GDFD_David_Grisman.htm David Grisman discography at the Grateful Dead Family Discography]
{{David Grisman}}
{{David Grisman Quintet}}
{{Old and in the Way}}
{{International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grisman, David}}
Category:Jewish American musicians
Category:Jewish American singers
Category:Musicians from Hackensack, New Jersey
Category:Singers from New Jersey
Category:American jazz musicians
Category:American bluegrass musicians
Category:American session musicians
Category:American bluegrass mandolinists
Category:Even Dozen Jug Band members
Category:David Grisman Quintet members