Dave Black

Percussionist, composer, and author, Dave Black, received his Bachelor of Music in percussion performance from California State University, Northridge. He has traveled around the world with a variety of entertainers and shows, performing and recording with such artists as Alan King, Robert Merrill, June Allyson, Anita O'Day, Pete Jolly, Frankie Capp, Gordon Brisker, Kim Richmond, Victor Lewis, Jerry Hey, and Steve Huffsteter. A prolific composer and arranger, more than 60 of his compositions and arrangements have been published by most of the major publishers, many of which have been recorded. Mr. Black has written with, and for the bands of Louie Bellson, Sammy Nestico, Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, Ed Shaughnessy, Gordon Brisker and the C.S.U., Northridge Jazz Ensemble. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and commissions, including 26 consecutive ASCAP Popular Composer Awards, two Grammy participation/nomination certificates–one for his performance contribution on Anita O'Day's Grammy®-nominated album In a Mellow Tone, and the other for his contribution as album-track composer on Louie Bellson's Grammy®-nominated album Airmail Special. He is also the recipient of the 2012 Percussive Arts Society President’s Industry Award, a Modern Drummer Readers Poll award (best drum book), two Drum! Magazine Drummie! awards (best drum book), and a certified Gold Record award for the sale of more than 500,000 copies of Alfred’s Drum Method, Book 1. In addition, many of his compositions have been used as source/background music on numerous TV shows including All My Children, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, General Hospital, Ellen, Grace Under Fire, Nightline, Roseanne and Good Morning America. In addition, he co-wrote the "Final Rudimental Solo" (from Alfred's Drum Method, Book 2) featured in the 20th-Century Fox hit movie, Drumline. As one of the biggest selling percussion authors in the world, Mr. Black is the author or co-author of several bestselling books published by Alfred Music Publishing Company: Alfred's Drum Method, Books 1 & 2 (the world's current best seller); Alfred's Beginning Drumset Method; Drumset 101; Alfred’s Kid’s Drum Course, Books 1 & 2; Living Praise; Cymbals: A Crash Course; A Jazz Diary (chosen for the 1998-2000 National Federation of Music Club's Junior Festival Bulletin); Drumset Independence & Syncopation; The Essential Dictionary of Orchestration; Sound Innovations for Concert Band (the world’s first customizable method); and Big Band Drumming Fill-osophy. His books and music are used and/or performed by hundreds of thousands of young people all over the world, with combined sales totaling two million units. He has also written countless articles, book reviews, and concert reviews for prominent magazines such as DownBeat, The Instrumentalist, Modern Drummer, Modern Percussionist, Drums and Drumming, Drum Tracks, Grammy Pulse, Jazz Educators Journal, Drum!, S.B.O., and Music Connection—in addition to being a featured subject in many of these publications. He presently serves as Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, School and Pop Publications, for Alfred Music Publishing Company.