(Written by Sandy Judkins for a 2003 IPL Newsletter)

Dave & David II at Crestview Elementary

...Enter Dave Frank (CS), Sound and Vibration Man for Crestview Elementary, where his son, David II is in the 4th Grade. This role started last year when his son's 3rd grade teacher heard that Dave played the drums. Dave put together a demonstration for the class illustrating sound and vibration. He also had David II take center stage to impress his classmates with what he could do on the drums. When that same lesson plan came up this year, Dave was asked to present to the 3rd grade again. Even though his son wasn't in her class, Dave agreed. Not to be left out, David's current teacher quickly added a Sound & Vibration lesson to her 4th grade curriculum. Sounds to me like Dave will be making a yearly visit to Crestview Elementary!

Dave came from a musically talented family: His dad, William, sang and played the harmonica, while his mom, Lois, also sang and played the piano. His two sisters, Sharon and Carol were both involved in singing in high school and Carol went on to receive her master in music and is a classical pianist. Dave's older brother, Billy, was his hero. One of Dave's earliest memories was sitting on the drummers lap while his brother played the guitar in a band. Dave was 7 years old when he started taking drum lessons, and the rest, as they say, is history. Dave has played professionally since the age of 14 years old, hitting the road in 1982 and traveling the countryside. Dave has played with dozens of bands with a very diverse range of music...Top 40, Jazz, Blues, Contemporary Christian, Heavy Metal, Musicals, Country, etc. Starting in November, 1988 and through 1989, Dave spent a total of 10 days at home, which at that time was Pennsylvania.

Dave met his wife, Jill, in Anderson while traveling with his band at a place called Bananas Lounge in 1989. After they were married in 1990, Dave quit the traveling but continues to be involved with music. Besides his son David's interest in the drums, his daughter, Kirstie, who is 6, sings and dances and does a good job of imitating Britney Spears and Madonna. Dave and Jill are currently members of the Worship Team at their church in Anderson, Eastside Church of God. Dave continues to play with a group in the evenings and weekends, but limits his travels to surrounding states to spend as much time as possible with his family. His gigs consist mostly of weddings, work functions and private club entertainment.

One of Dave's memorable moments was in St. Louis filling in for a band for a small crowd and taking requests to "Stump the Band." Someone shouted out "Jump by Van Halen" and the band did a pretty good in pronto version. The memorable part was that the actual request had come from the Van Halen band and they thought that Dave's group had done a first-rate rendition of the song. Some other brushes with the famous were with members of bands playing with Al Hirt, Lionel Richie, Neil Diamond and Liza Minelli.

While Dave still composes, produces and performs a lot of his own work, the circuit for studio work is tight. There are three to four locals that have been doing this work for decades, but at some point Dave hopes additional professional opportunities will open up for him.

So when you go by Dave's office and he's drumming his desk and nodding his head to music that you can't hear...remember...he's the Sound and Vibration Man.

(as written by Sandy Judkins, IPL)

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