David Karp

Dave Karp (born 12/1955), is a local Milwaukee musician who plays both keyboards and guitar for the Mission River Band.

EARLY YEARS.

Dave Karp was born in Milwaukee and has lived here the majority of his life. His first instrument that he learned was the accordion. At age 5, he switched to learning classical piano, including broadway and pop songs. He is self taught on guitar, learning the instrument at age 9 years old. He went to John Marshall High School  in Milwaukee, WI, graduating in 1973. From there, he attended the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, graduating in 1977.  He also attended the public administration graduate school program at American University in Washington D.C., where he also had the opportunity to serve as an intern for the Senate Select Committee on Small Business.

During both his high school and college years, he played lead guitar in a variety of local bands, including the groups 'Jade,' 'Last Exit,'  'Heather,' and 'The Buck Byron Band.' After college, he went on to Marquette University Law School, where he graduated with a J.D. degree in 1982.

MID YEARS.

Dave Karp dropped out of the music scene from 1979 to 2005, instead, concentrating on building his law practice with his brother Jeff.

CURRENT YEARS.

Dave Karp began re-entering the music scene by playing local Sunday night blues jam sessions. In 2005, he joined the Mission River Band on a full time basis, where he plays an even mix of keyboards and guitar. In 2009, he began a project of writing and recording original acoustic guitar music with a former band mate, Joseph Kopecky. He recently was successful in  reuniting an old band, 'Heather' which got together in June, 2011 for a special reunion acoustic show that occurred at the DryHootch coffee shop on Milwaukee's east side. A full electric version of the band 'Heather' is currently in the planning stages, with a gig to be performed in 2012. Helping form out the old band will be Jim Lopina and Dick Phalen from the Mission River Band. During this past summer, Dave Karp also sat in on keyboards with the 50's group, 'Danny & The Juniors,' famous for their hit song, 'At the Hop.' 

Dave Karp is currently married with two children and lives in Mequon, WI.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES.

Dave Karp's musical influences are quite diverse, but whatever roads it leads from, ultimately comes back to the blues; he counts as his influences, Big Bill Broonzy, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Freddie King, Robert Johnson, and B.B. King. He counts as his favorite guitarists, Jimi Hendirx, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, and Bucky Pizzarelli. For keyboard influences, he includes, Lee Michaels, Brian Auger, Greg Allman, Ray Charles, Marcus Roberts and Steve Winwood.

CURRENT EQUIPMENT USED.

Dave Karp is currently using for on stage amplification a Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue (vintage style) all tube amplifier. His guitars of choice are a Fender Custom Shop Relic  Stratocaster 1956 reissue ('Blackie'), a Fender American Vintage Series 1952 Telecaster,a Daphne Blue 50's Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul  Studio 60's reissue. He is currently using as sound effects, an Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal, a Boss DS1 distortion pedal, a Boss Digital Delay-echo, and a Jim Dunlap Cry Baby Wah-Wah pedal.