Photography by Robert Parsons, Remembering When Photography.  

Elegant Music by Dave Lagadi

Sean McCausland performed several times with me a the Flat Rock Grille.  He is a first class bass guitarist and I truly was honored to have him on the stage with me and even more delighted that he and I now perform regularly as a duo and trio along with Dan Keller.  His mother, Marylin Seits is a premier jazz pianist living and working in NYC.  She also has a recording studio there, CMR Records.  Sean is playing his 6 string fretless bass on the tracks you are now listening to on this site, check out his bass solo on "Route 66".  

Dan Keller is one of Asheville's most talented jazz guitarists. 

His past performances range from the Grove Park Inn (Asheville, NC), to the Flat Rock Music Festival (Flat Rock, NC), the White Horse w/ the Charles Unger Experience (Black Mountain, NC), Blues Boulevard Jazz (Spartanburg, SC), and Ellington’s Jazz (Fort Myer’s, FL). Presently Dan  performs weekly at Cedric's on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.  Dan also teaches jazz guitar to both aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians and here in Asheville.  

The Flat Rock Grille was a beautiful place to perform, had a first rate clientle who appreciated my music. It was a sad day when it closed.

My mentor and dear friend Dan Tatum.  Dan taught me the importance of beautiful diction, a delicate chord delivery with seamless transition, and to use  my voice as an  instrument.  I owe all my successes to Dan.

 Photo by Don Carrol

PFC David Lagadi at my  Army job performing in the "Speed of  Sound Show", Fairbanks, AK

Photo by Noah Stewart

Army days.  I as an entertainment specialist in the Army.  Felicity was one of the bands that I played with  outside of the Army gig. 

Photo by Noah Stewart

My early days as a "rocker".   Gary Mauney, on my immediate right has been one of my closest friends since 1973.  We played together in several bands during the time he and I lived in Anchorage.  Gary is one of the finest bass guitarists on the East Coast.  He was a founding member of the Fabulous Flares, a R&B horn and vocal group that was the top band in North Carolina during the 60's.  He now plays and sings with the  popular  dance band "City Lights" in Columbia, SC. and is currently forming a jazz trio.

Bruce Schoenberger, on Gary's immediate right, was stationed with me at Ft. Richardson,AK.  He went on to command his own Army jazz band in Panama and other assignments with in the U.S.  He has had a successful music career as a guitarist/bass guitarist after retiring and is now a long haul trucker.

In Dallas picking with my brother Pete.  Pete's a natural musician, can play anything that generates a note. 

My lovely wife Libby, our sons Robbie 17 and Ryan 12 and daughter Rachel 20 at the Flat Rock Grille after one of my performances

Photo by Gwen Smith, Winston-Salem, NC

"Magic" was  that last of several bands that Gary and I Performed with in Anchorage. Lucy (at that time Garcia) was a dynamic front personality, great singer that made this the most fun band ever.  The Anchorage Daily News produced a several page article telling "Magic's" story and how it evolved over the years and crediting as Anchorage's most successful local band up to that point.

Photo by Gwen Smith, Winston-Salem, NC

The Exelcior Duo is Steve Sarant and Paul Bowman.  Steve is a phenomenol jazz /classical flutist, "Flute Cocktail", CDBaby.com    Paul is a superb classical guitarist.  Together they made some incredible music on Saturday nights at the Flat Rock Grille.  I have had the pleasure of playing with Steve  using my songlist where he also provided great bass guitar when he wasn't knocking the audience out with his great flute licks. 

Photo by Gwen Smith, Winston-Salem, NC

Photo by Don Carrol

Follies Pot Pourie, Sidney Lawrence Auditorium, Anchorage, AK

Johnny Ferrara is the closest thing to Oscar Peterson I have ever heard in public.  The man is an amazing pianist who has played in the presence of many a distinguished professional entertainer including Bob Hope and several U.S. Presidents.  He is a retired U.S. Airforce Band Director and an all around nice guy.  If you ever have an opportunity to hear this man play he'll amaze you. He  performed on alternating nights with my good friend Steve Sarant on bass and flute at the Flat Rock.   Sean and I had the distinct honor and pleasure to be invited into his home and play a few jazz standards with him and meet his lovely and charming wife.  It was a memorable musical experience! 

My son Ryan  moments after receiving his first "real" guitar.  I waited until he started picking up my classical guitar on a daily basis and was observed spending lots of time watching /listening to influential guitarists on You Tube before making the decision to make the investment.  He selected the SG design based on my first "real" guitar which was a Gibson SG design Les Paul Jr that I received at age 11.  I look forward to playing music with him as he progresses as I did as a guitarist at his age.

Photo by Noah Stewart

Gary playing his "now vintage" Precision Bass and my already at the time, vintage Les Paul Jr.

Photo by Joe Whitt

DL Trio
Daniel Keller, Sean McCausland
Photo by Joe Whitt