David Harvey (luthier)
Encyclopedia
David Harvey is an American
bluegrass
mandolin
player and luthier
, responsible for the mandolin
s, banjo
s, and dobro
s produced by Gibson
.
and Frank Wakefield
; David Harvey grew up playing mandolin, fiddle
, and guitar
, and is often referred to as a "mandolin virtuoso." At age 14, he started touring with Allen, and in the late seventies became a member of Larry Sparks
's The Lonesome Ramblers. In the eighties, he formed The Wild and Blue Band with his wife, Jan, and her sister, Jill Snider, playing bluegrass festivals and recording; they were given the "Best New Band" award by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in 1992.
From 2002 to 2007 he toured with Claire Lynch
, and in 2004 produced and played on a tribute to The Moody Blues
, Moody Bluegrass, which featured artists like Alison Krauss
and John Cowan
. In 2004, he performed with Larry Cordle
on Murder on Music Row, which spawned the hitsingle "Murder on Music Row
" (recorded by George Strait
and Alan Jackson
).
, he worked at various places including The Violin Shop and National Guitar Repair, run by Charlie Derrington; Derrington took a job with Gibson
, and soon asked Harvey to join him.
At Gibson, Harvey is the master luthier who oversees and approves their production of mandolins, banjos, and dobros. He is also responsible for the limited edition Jam Master and Master Models, which includes a signature Ricky Skaggs
model.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
player and luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
, responsible for the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
s, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
s, and dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
s produced by Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
.
Musical career
Harvey is the son of Dorsey Harvey, a mandolin player who played with Red AllenRed Allen (bluegrass)
Harley Allen , better known as Red Allen, was an American bluegrass singer and guitarist known for his powerful tenor voice.-Biography:...
and Frank Wakefield
Frank Wakefield
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Wakefield is an innovative American mandolin player in the bluegrass music style. Wakefield is known for his collaborations with a number of important and well-known bands, including Red Allen, Don Reno, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and the Greenbriar Boys.-Biography:Born...
; David Harvey grew up playing mandolin, fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and is often referred to as a "mandolin virtuoso." At age 14, he started touring with Allen, and in the late seventies became a member of Larry Sparks
Larry Sparks
Larry Sparks is a Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year for his album "40," celebrating his 40th year in bluegrass...
's The Lonesome Ramblers. In the eighties, he formed The Wild and Blue Band with his wife, Jan, and her sister, Jill Snider, playing bluegrass festivals and recording; they were given the "Best New Band" award by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in 1992.
From 2002 to 2007 he toured with Claire Lynch
Claire Lynch
Claire Lynch , is an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, and session vocalist who joined her first band, then called Hickory Wind, in 1973...
, and in 2004 produced and played on a tribute to The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
, Moody Bluegrass, which featured artists like Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
and John Cowan
John Cowan
John Cowan is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival...
. In 2004, he performed with Larry Cordle
Larry Cordle
Larry Cordle was born in eastern Kentucky and is an American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter. Cordle is most famous for his song "Murder on Music Row", which was recorded by George Strait and Alan Jackson and received the CMA Award for Song of the Year in 2000.-Career:Cordle has written...
on Murder on Music Row, which spawned the hitsingle "Murder on Music Row
Murder on Music Row
"Murder on Music Row" is a song made popular as a 2000 duet between country music artists George Strait and Alan Jackson. Although not released officially as a single, it gained attention for its criticism of mainstream country music trends at the time, and received enough unsolicited airplay to...
" (recorded by George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
and Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
).
Guitar builder
Harvey began learning the trade from John Ramsey, at The Folklore Center in Colorado Springs in the late seventies. In the nineties, having moved to Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, he worked at various places including The Violin Shop and National Guitar Repair, run by Charlie Derrington; Derrington took a job with Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
, and soon asked Harvey to join him.
At Gibson, Harvey is the master luthier who oversees and approves their production of mandolins, banjos, and dobros. He is also responsible for the limited edition Jam Master and Master Models, which includes a signature Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
model.