BIO

"Congratulations DAVE DUNLOP and RIK EMMETT
The Nominating Committee of the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards is delighted to announce that you have been nominated in the following category:
Rik Emmett - Male Vocalist if the Year
and for your work with the Strung Out Troubadours in the following category:
Group/Duo of the Year for 2009
SMOOTH JAZZ AWARDS APRIL 2010 RESULTS COMING SOON"
---> VOTE HERE! <---

Dave Dunlop has been a pro guitarist/songwriter/singer/educator for the last 17 years, and is currently playing in the re-formed "Triumph", "Strung-Out Troubadours", "The Rik Emmett Band", and "Jeans 'n Classics". Dave's an endorser of Dean guitars, Gibson guitars, and Traynor amplifiers.

Dave was also lead guitarist & writer in “The Full Nine”, signed with Disney’s Mammoth Records.

In 2005, he put “Room 9” studio together in his Toronto home, where he’s been busy recording and producing projects non-stop ever since. The studio also drew him into the jingle world, writing the music for an American Budweiser radio campaign.

He's been a faculty member at the National Summer Guitar Workshop, and has done sideman stints with Bo Diddley, Lisa Dalbello, Mike Reno (of Loverboy fame), Ron Sexsmith, and others.

In 2005, Dave was also fortunate enough to hook up with “Jeans ‘n Classics", which is a group of players that travel around North America playing live, theatre shows with orchestras. Dave has won raves for his handiwork, ranging from Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Nirvana, Queen, and others.

His working relationship with Emmett has grown to the point that they released a duo project together, called “Strung-Out Troubadours”, with Dave co-writing, recording, co-producing, mixing and performing, all in his Room 9 studio. The strength of the duo’s chemistry led to their winning 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Group/Duo' at the 2007 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, where they were the most heavily-nominated act. Each of the “Troubs” was also up for "best guitarist". Dave and Rik continue to tour on the strength of that CD, but far from resting on their laurels, their follow-up has just hit the market, entitled “Live at Hugh’s Room”, [produced & mixed by Dave] showcasing the acoustic duo in a magical evening captured just before Christmas 2006 at the fabled “Hugh’s Room” in Toronto.

In 2008, Dave joined the re-formed "Triumph", supporting the original lineup of Rik Emmett, Gil Moore & Mike Levine.