Swingin’ Dave Collert 1952-2014
E
Guitar Master
BY C H A R L E S D O N E L A N very music scene has its inner circle of royalty.
COURTESY PHOTOS
10 years before. With this performance, Collert entered For five decades, Swingin’ Dave Collert served not only rock history but also American history, as this as Santa Barbara’s Duke Ellington of the guitar. was one of the watershed moments in the gay liberation From the 1960s through the 2000s, Collert lis- movement — a national television broadcast of a glamtened to, analyzed, and played nearly every style of gui- rock song celebrating same-sex attraction. After working in tar, mastering rock, pop, N.Y.C. and visiting and jazz from the inside out. When he finally Paris, David returned settled on a musical to Santa Barbara and home base in the 1970s, formed Cocktail with it was the style of Django Grant Loud on vocals Reinhardt that he took and thus entered into up and mastered seamthe prime of his years as lessly. Although it will be an interpreter of stanfor his work as Swingin’ dards and jazz classics. Dave — first in Cocktail In the period 1971-89, he and later in Tom Foolmanaged Fancy Music, ery and Hot Club — that a legendary gathering Collert will be most place and resource for remembered, he earned the city’s music comhis place in music history munity. From there, several times over, not he went on to co-own only as a prodigy guitar Sound Advice (1990player, but also as a gifted 96). Brad Nack rememcomposer and arranger bers buying guitars there, and how acceptand as an authority on ing and supportive guitars, technique, and equipment. Collert was of young Born in Hollywood musicians coming up in 1952, Collert moved through the ranks: to Santa Barbara with “Dave came to some his family when he was 9 gigs that I played with Spencer Barnitz, and I years old. He formed his HOT: Dave Collert played his favorite Jacques Favino first band with longtime know that we weren’t guitar with his Hot Club Band in 2013. friend Jay Dee Daugherty really all that together when the two were students at La Cumbre Junior High. in those days. It was obvious that Swingin’ Dave was on Daugherty would go on to fame as the drummer for Patti another level musically, but he still showed up and offered Smith, but it was in the company of Collert that he devel- us acknowledgement and respect, even when I’m pretty oped his style in early bands like Weirdo Stud (1968-69) sure we didn’t deserve it.” Collert also did session work in Los Angeles — meeting and King Tut and the Space Queers (1970-74). In 1973, Collert and Daugherty hooked up with Lance famous Wrecking Crew members such as Tiny Timbrell Loud, Kevin Loud, and Kristian Hoffman to form the and Tommy Tedesco and working with Stewart Levin Loud Band, a precursor to the Mumps. Lance Loud had Productions. Raymond Kurzweil ran through the K250 just achieved national Synthesizer with Dave, which led to a meeting recognition for his with Bob Dylan. involvement in the reality television program An Many people will also remember Swingin’ American Family, and his Dave’s famous cars, which band became a vehicle for some of the first openly included his well-known blue and red Citroëns, gay sentiments in popua Lamborghini, and a lar music. Critics today acknowledge the Mumps, Rolls-Royce. From his Loud, and Hoffman’s next automobiles to his hair group as the greatest “lost” and clothes to his ubiqband of the New York New uitous sunglasses, SwinWave scene, and many gin’ Dave always had a of the era’s best-known charisma and style that musicians cite them as an influenced his many fans. That personal style important influence. Collert was with the carried over into his LOUD: The Lance Loud Band circa 1973 was (front group when they appeared relationships, marked by row, from left) Kristian Hoffman, Jay Dee Daugherty, as the Loud Band on The Collert’s romantic streak. Collert, and Kevin Loud and (back row, from left) Recent years found him Dick Cavett Show on FebMichele, Lance, and Delilah Loud. ruary 4, 1974. The group sharing his life with fianplayed “Muscle Boys,” a cée and photographer song that Collert cowrote with Lance, and the largely Joanne A. Calitri. The couple was in New York City on gay audience in the Ed Sullivan Theater, which included a visit and planning to settle there when Collert died Andy Warhol, gave them a wild standing ovation. For unexpectedly. He was working on new music at the time. Collert, this was a great moment because he was play- In his words: “I’m mixing the sweetness of Django and the ing on the same stage his idols, the Beatles, had played craziness of Charlie Parker.” ■
Available at luggage specialty stores, select fine department stores and online at briggs-riley.com.
In Memoriam
M EMORIES A
THAT LAST A LIFETIME DESERVE BAG T H AT D O E S TO O . • The Transcend Collection •
ENGINEERED FOR REALITY. GUARANTEED FOR LIFE.™
$50 OFF
EVERY $350 SPENT ON ALL COLLECTIONS Instant savings applies to full-priced styles only. Valid through December 31, 2014.
HANDBAG AND LUGGAGE STORE 609 CHAPALA ST. | SANTA BARBARA, CA. 93110 805-962-7347 | ALINDA@SBLUGGAGE.COM M-F 10-5:30 | SATURDAY 9-3PM
WE ARE “THE BRIGGS & RILEY STORE OF SANTA BARBARA!” (THE BIG BLUE HOUSE)
Need to Stuff a Stocking? • Skin Deep Gift Cards! • Novelty Gift Items: Under $20! • Luscious Soaps & Lotions • Sparkling Hair Accessories • Beautiful Jewelry • Haircare, Skincare & Cosmetics • Luxurious Salon Spa Treatments • Candles Galore & Chocolate Treats • Complimentary Wrapping!
20% OFF
Any One Item through Dec. 24 Not Valid with other offers & discounts Excludes Gift Certificates, Salon Services, Clarisonic & NuFace
3405 State Street San Roque Plaza
687-9497 Open 7 Days
skindeepsalon.com
december 18, 2014
THE INDEPENDENt
21