Inspired as a child by the local high school marching band in his hometown of San Angelo, Texas, David was bitten early by the music bug in the mid-1970s. In his teens, he would become a member of that same marching band as a trombonist, but at home he was discovering guitar chords on a discarded-and-restored 1965 Airline Bobkat.

After studying music education and music theory at Angelo State University, and also working as an on-air radio personality for various local radio stations, he made his way to Austin, Texas in the early 1990s. Honing his songwriting and guitar skills, both as a solo performer and in various bands including World Machine, David spent much of the 90s playing iconic Austin venues like Steamboat, Babe's On Sixth, Chicago House and more. 

After a self-imposed hiatus from the music business, David found himself again playing bass guitar (the instrument he chose over trombone while in college jazz band) and joined Austin cover band Encore in 2011. While continuing to write and perform original songs on solo acoustic gigs, he went on to form Scottish Thunder (becoming known for a time as “the guy in the kilt!” in the Austin music scene) and Brass In Pocket - America’s Pretenders Tribute Band. 

In 2022, David joined legendary Beatles tribute band The Eggmen as its new bassist. The band retired in 2024, but David and several Eggmen band members have re-grouped to form FAB!, Austin's Premier Tribute to The Beatles.

Currently, he performs with that band as well as Brass In Pocket - America's Pretenders Tribute Band, yacht-rock tribute band Yacht Z, and Mock Lobster - Austin’s Tribute to the B-52s. 

David was named Best Bassist in the inaugural 2024 Austin Tribute Band Community Awards.

He also continues to perform solo gigs on guitar and piano, and is working on an album of new original music scheduled for release in 2026.