Dr.-Db-Bio

Having parents with musical backgrounds, Dr. Db counts musicians Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix among the many “characters” he met while growing up in San Francisco in the seventies. Although music runs in the family – his father was a band member with The Imperials, while his grandparents had the first gospel music radio show – Dr. Db’s skill on the keyboards and bass guitar was largely self-taught. “I don’t really read music, I just learn by ear,” he says, adding, “I’ve always been good about picking out stuff.”

Playing “The Doctor” in Purple Reign, Dr. Db, ironically, has been playing bass guitar since he was 14, with experience totaling 26 years; while he estimates that he’s been playing keyboards in bands for the last 18 years. Aside from this, Dr. Db has also been a lead singer with band “After Dark,” and back-up vocals with another group, “The Brothers Owens.” He followed this by joining “Rhythm Nation,” where he spent 14 years as the keyboardist and music director. His stint with “Cat Daddy” allowed him to tour the world for three months, as well as play at The Palazzo, up until he joined Purple Reign.

Like most musicians, Dr. Db, also has a home-based production studio, where he does projects for friends who want to do albums for internet radio. “Back in the day, I used to do rap – and produced some stuff for “Rappin’ 4-Tay,” he shares. He’s also written a couple of songs for “Malo” though he adds it was “way back in the eighties and nineties.” He has also produced all the music for “The Velvet Rope Tribute Show,” which pays tribute to the music of Janet Jackson.

More recently, he is at work on his own album, where he sings lead. While he grew-up listening to Prince’s music, he cites Marcus Miller, Spyro Gyra and Stevie Wonder as the artists who have heavily influenced him. “My long term goal is to do some smooth jazz CDs.”

Dr. Db

keyboards