Whether with the 1980's pop sensation NuShooz, the very funky Pleasure or blues harmonica legend Paul DeLay; rockin' out with Rank and FIle, keeping it acoustic with the Balafon Marimba Ensemble, backing western music's Joni Harms or providing the thunderstorm for Shakespeare's King Lear, veteran producer, engineer and musician Dave Grafe has developed a reputation over the last thirty-odd years for his versatile musicianship and superb production work behind the scenes in support of countless other artists. 

His studio engineering and production credits include the debut album on Shanechie Records for Balafon Marimba Ensemble, Paul DeLay's The Other One and Another Sight Of Home for Pacific Northwest bluegrass favorites Sunny South.  His theatrical sound design for Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company's 1997 production of Comedy Of Errors brought a Drammy nomination from the Portland Drama Guild.  His many years with the Portland Center for the Performing Arts included sound effects work in conjunction with the late, great Sidney Walker's stirring performances, helping make Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 1993 producton of  King Lear a major highlight in the Pacific Northwest's long and venerable theatrical history. Since 1980 he has been the driving force behind PDX Audio, providing outstanding sound systems and production services to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Dave's performing and recording experience has encompassed the widest possible range of musical styles on instruments including Acoustic and Electric Basses, Tuba, Baritone, Trombone, Saxophones, Flutes, Harmonicas, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Percussion, Keyboards and his beloved Pedal Steel Guitar. Notable endeavors include the '70's latin-hippy-cult phenomenon Felicidades and the highly acclaimed eclectic songwriters workshop Sky River, as well as work with The Lovin' Brothers, Foothill Diesel, Jack McMahon and Friends, the Marylhurst Symphony Orchestra, Wally's Cacophony Marching Band, Gary Ogan, Tenley Holway and Cayuse, Tommy Toast and the Hot Jams, Jeffrey Fredericks and the Clamtones, Freddy Fender, Terry Robb, Lisa Miller and the Trailer Park Honeys, J. Michael Kearsey and Brothers of the Baladi.  In recent years he has  often been found backing award-winning western hometown girl Joni Harms on the bass and pedal steel guitar as a key member of the Harms Way Band.
 

A Partial Discography:

• Voyage Northwest; Suite for the Columbia Gorge; Silverthaw -- J. Michael Kearsey
• Gone -- No Way Home
• You're In My Heart For Good -- James Clark
• Oregon Portraits; Oregon Portraits II -- Oregon Public Broadcasting / Oregon Field Guide television programs
• Strange Echoes from the Water's Edge -- Dave Grafe

Gigi's Kitchen -- You can sing along anytime with friends or alone

Out On The Road -- From the vaults of Sky River, with flute solos by Dave

The Lesson -- Sounds like gospel, Dave's pedal steel and piano shine

Restless Heart -- Dan Fincher's tenor saxophone expounds on the human condition, in the key of Ska

Emma -- A Love Song

River Choir -- No need to push the river, it flows by itself

Words Could Never Tell -- Dave lets his Pedal Steel Guitar do all the talking

Hilife -- Mix a bit of South African Rythms with American R&B sensibility and see what happens

Children of the Earth -- A hopeful anthem for the way home

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From the Way Back Machine - Sky River - The Front Room Sessions
All Songs written by Oakra Sparks, Dave Musser, Dave Grafe, Bobby Johnson, Alan Dutton, John Elliott
All songs published by Sky River Music (BMI) -- Copyright 1980

Fire In Yer Eyes - Rockin' it hard with the pedal steel

Feelin' Like a Clone - Just searchin' for a chromosome that I can call my own

Why Are You So Insecure? - Tell me why!

Winding Road to Yesterday - Stay off that winding country road