DW (Dave) Drouillard
Encyclopedia
DW Drouillard (born March 23, 1950, in Buffalo, New York) is an American vocalist, songwriter and musician.
, Huddie Ledbetter, The Weavers
, and the work of John Jacob Niles
by his mother, Elizabeth Harriet Wilson, a music educator and 1943 graduate of Case Western Reserve University
. He entered Trinity Church Choir in 1959, transitioning to St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo)
Choir in 1962 where he trained as a countertenor
in the tradition of Alfred Deller
.
Drouillard attended University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio and graduated with a degree in English Literature. As a student he was active in the school’s madrigal group, the college choir, and was a founding member of the folk group Main Street, Mom, and Apple Pie.
, Akron, Ohio; Allentown, Buffalo, New York
; and Yorkville, Toronto
, Ontario. He made his first appearance on the venerable WMMS Coffeebreak Concert Series in Cleveland, Ohio, December 6, 1972. Drouillard relocated to New Haven, CT in the fall of 1974 as a featured artist for the historic New York Longchamps Restaurant Group. In addition to his regular schedule, he played opening sets for Toots and the Maytals and Pure Prairie League
. In 1977, Drouillard joined the country-rock band, Yankee, and wrote "Green Eyes Crying in the Rain", which was included on the WHCN Homegrown compilation album.
Beginning in 1981, Drouillard stayed closer to home where he performed at local venues and opened for touring artists including Peter Ostroushko
, Connie Kaldor
, and Jorma Kaukonen
. In 1992 he appeared on the WWUH Folk Next Door
I live concert album and that summer directed the first of three Apple Valley Family Folk Festivals (1992, 1993, 1994). In 1995, Drouillard performed on the WWUH Folk Next Door
IV album and released a retrospective recording of original material, Plainsongs, introducing DWDrouilllard and The Great Buffalo Band. Artists appearing on the album include Darren Wallace formerly of the band Filé (band)
, Ken Karpowicz of the Zydeco Zombies, Mark Mercier of the band Max Creek
, Phil Rosenthal formerly of the Seldom Scene, Todd Cook, and Matthew Chirsky. Also in 1995, Drouillard appeared on the Euphonious Mode, Acoustic and beyond..., Volume 2 CD-ROM produced by Harvee Riggs. Dave's 1996 performance schedule included a return to Caffe Lena
in Saratoga Springs, NY for the 7th Annual Folk-A-Thon and an appearance at Club Passim
in Cambridge, MA.
Drouillard continues to write and perform, dividing his time between Southern New England and the Niagara Region of Ontario. Dave has performed at the regional 2010 East Rock West Rock Music Festival in New Haven (The Space venue), and the 92nd Annual Durham Fair
.
Background
DW (Dave) Drouillard (birth name, David Wilson Drullard) was introduced at an early age to the songs of Woody GuthrieWoody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
, Huddie Ledbetter, The Weavers
The Weavers
The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel music, children's songs, labor songs, and American ballads, and selling millions of records at the height of their...
, and the work of John Jacob Niles
John Jacob Niles
John Jacob Niles was an American composer, singer, and collector of traditional ballads. Called the "Dean of American Balladeers", Niles was an important influence on the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, with Joan Baez, Burl Ives, and Peter, Paul and Mary, among others,...
by his mother, Elizabeth Harriet Wilson, a music educator and 1943 graduate of Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. He entered Trinity Church Choir in 1959, transitioning to St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo)
St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo)
St. Paul's Cathedral is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York and a landmark of downtown Buffalo, New York. The church sits on an a triangular lot bounded by Church st., Pearl st., Erie st., and Main st.-History:Major structural events:...
Choir in 1962 where he trained as a countertenor
Countertenor
A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely than normal, modal voice. A pre-pubescent male who has this ability is called a treble...
in the tradition of Alfred Deller
Alfred Deller
Alfred George Deller CBE , was an English singer and one of the main figures in popularizing the return of the countertenor voice in Renaissance and Baroque music during the 20th Century....
.
Drouillard attended University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio and graduated with a degree in English Literature. As a student he was active in the school’s madrigal group, the college choir, and was a founding member of the folk group Main Street, Mom, and Apple Pie.
Career
Upon graduation, Drouillard began his music career knocking about the coffeehouses of SpicertownSpicertown
Spicertown is a neighborhood within Akron, Ohio located in the area around Spicer and East Exchange Streets. Originally settled by Major Minor Spicer and his family in the years 1810-1811, Spicertown's population increased steadily over the following 25 years due to an influx of German...
, Akron, Ohio; Allentown, Buffalo, New York
Allentown, Buffalo, New York
The Allentown district is a neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. The neighborhood is home to the Allentown Historic District.-Geography:Allentown is the first neighborhood north of the Downtown Buffalo core. It borders the downtown theater and entertainment district to its south, and runs north to...
; and Yorkville, Toronto
Yorkville, Toronto
Yorkville is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, well known for its shopping. It is a former village, annexed by the City of Toronto. It is roughly bounded by Bloor Street to the south, Davenport Road to the north, Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, and is considered part of...
, Ontario. He made his first appearance on the venerable WMMS Coffeebreak Concert Series in Cleveland, Ohio, December 6, 1972. Drouillard relocated to New Haven, CT in the fall of 1974 as a featured artist for the historic New York Longchamps Restaurant Group. In addition to his regular schedule, he played opening sets for Toots and the Maytals and Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League, sometimes abbreviated PPL, is an American country-rock band whose roots began between 1964 and 1969 in Waverly, Ohio with Craig Fuller, George Powell, Tom McGrail, Jim Caughlan and John David Call. In 1970 McGrail named the band after a 19th century temperance union mentioned...
. In 1977, Drouillard joined the country-rock band, Yankee, and wrote "Green Eyes Crying in the Rain", which was included on the WHCN Homegrown compilation album.
Beginning in 1981, Drouillard stayed closer to home where he performed at local venues and opened for touring artists including Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
, Connie Kaldor
Connie Kaldor
Connie Isabelle Kaldor, is a Canadian folk singer/songwriter. She is the recipient of three Juno awards.Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, she graduated from Campbell Collegiate in Regina in 1972 and the University of Alberta in 1976 with a BFA degree in theatre...
, and Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
. In 1992 he appeared on the WWUH Folk Next Door
Folk Next Door
The Folk Next Door was the name of a concert series and CD releases produced on by WWUH, the University of Hartford radio station in West Hartford, CT, USA. There were nine concerts and CDs in all, one each year starting in 1991...
I live concert album and that summer directed the first of three Apple Valley Family Folk Festivals (1992, 1993, 1994). In 1995, Drouillard performed on the WWUH Folk Next Door
Folk Next Door
The Folk Next Door was the name of a concert series and CD releases produced on by WWUH, the University of Hartford radio station in West Hartford, CT, USA. There were nine concerts and CDs in all, one each year starting in 1991...
IV album and released a retrospective recording of original material, Plainsongs, introducing DWDrouilllard and The Great Buffalo Band. Artists appearing on the album include Darren Wallace formerly of the band Filé (band)
Filé (band)
Filé is a cajun music ensemble from Louisiana founded in 1983. The group is named after filé powder, a spice used in cajun food.The group was founded by Ward Lomand and Kevin Shearin, who had previously played together in the band Cush-Cush from 1980...
, Ken Karpowicz of the Zydeco Zombies, Mark Mercier of the band Max Creek
Max Creek
Max Creek is an American rock band that was formed by Dave Reed, John Rider and Bob Gosselin in 1971. Scott Murawski, then aged 15, joined the band in the spring of 1972. Murawski left after two months, but returned in 1973. Mark Mercier the keyboardist joined in January 1973. Dave Reed left the...
, Phil Rosenthal formerly of the Seldom Scene, Todd Cook, and Matthew Chirsky. Also in 1995, Drouillard appeared on the Euphonious Mode, Acoustic and beyond..., Volume 2 CD-ROM produced by Harvee Riggs. Dave's 1996 performance schedule included a return to Caffe Lena
Caffè Lena
Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Caffè Lena is the oldest continually running coffee house in the United States. Founded in 1960 by Bill and Lena Spencer, it features acoustic concerts and cultural events showcasing folk music, traditional music, and singer-songwriters of a wide range...
in Saratoga Springs, NY for the 7th Annual Folk-A-Thon and an appearance at Club Passim
Club Passim
Club Passim is a folk music club in the Harvard Square area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was opened by Joyce Kalina and Paula Kelley in 1958, when it was known as Club 47 , and changed its name to simply Passim in 1969...
in Cambridge, MA.
Drouillard continues to write and perform, dividing his time between Southern New England and the Niagara Region of Ontario. Dave has performed at the regional 2010 East Rock West Rock Music Festival in New Haven (The Space venue), and the 92nd Annual Durham Fair
Durham Fair
The Durham Fair, held in Durham, Connecticut, is one of the largest agricultural fairs in New England and was first held in 1916. The three-day event takes place during the last full weekend of September. Activities include livestock and competitive exhibits, pulling contests, craft and commercial...
.
Awards and recognition
- American Hymn - Finalist, The American Song Fesitval 1975, Hollywood, CA
- Green Eyes Crying in the Rain - People's Choice Award, New Haven Advocate Poll 1977
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Semi-finalist, New Folk, Kerrville Folk Festival 1993
- Dominion Blue - Semi-finalist (Folk category), Mid-Atlantic Song Contest 1993, The Songwriters' Association of Washington
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Festival Performance, Hear in Rhode Island 1996, The Rhode Island Songwriters' Association
Critical citations
- “After a solid year of hard work in the studio. . .Dave Drouillard has delivered a gratifying and infectious collection of songs that plumb the mysteries of life, love, nature and the everlasting pursuit of solace amidst chaos and despair. In fact, many of Drouillard's best compositions deal with journeys through stormy seas and troubled relationships, and across unforgiving landscapes, always in pursuit of an answer that seems to lie hidden just across the next ridge, or beyond a maddeningly distant border. . .Drouillard sings in a tenor laden with the weariness, anticipation and emotion of the search." - Ed McKeon
- "Dave does it all. Plan to spend the time and listen to him. One of the finest acoustic musicians we've heard in a long time." - The Clinton Bluefish Festival 1995
- ". . .But David Drouillard's valuables are different. His shoe box is filled with a treasure far more personal - his words. . . The album highlights the sweet tenor of this former boy soprano as well as his poetic narrative flair, which often evokes the mythical tone of fairy tales." - Orla Swift
- ". . .I really wanted to detest this Drouillard record before it went into the sonic transducer. . .But Dave's voice is as pretty a voice as you'll hear in the area these days. OK, "pretty" is a silly adjective to use in most cases, but Drouillard's tenor is all that and more. He brings Celtic influences, a wee bit o' Cajun voilin, and Phil Rosenthal (formerly of Seldom Scene on banjo and mandolin) who adds some natty flavor as well." - Michael Caito