Dave Bennett started playing music at the age of 9. Forced to take piano lessons as a last-ditch effort by his single Mom to corral his endless energy & keep him out of trouble, (or destroying the house), he became fascinated by the power & passion of music. Lucky for him his older sister, Pam, had recently become a member of the popular 60’s folk group “The New Christy Minstrels”, (and part of Laurel Canyon music scene that included Frank Zappa, Tim Buckley, Lowell George and others), and she exposed him to great music at an early age like Lightnin’ Hopkins, Wilson Pickett, Bob Dylan, Elmore James, Pete Seeger, Miles Davis and Muddy Waters. She also taught him to play guitar and Dave, after just learning to surf, promptly joined a surf band to meet girls. Dave played in garage bands throughout high school where he met Wild West drummer Rob Goodwin where the two continued to meet girls.
After attending college for 3 years in Colorado studying, (and playing music) and snow skiing, Dave dropped out of college, (much to his parent's dismay), and went on the road with a Southern rock band, aptly named “The Backstreet Band”, before boy bands were a “thing”. After a few years of touring upholstered sewers in the Midwest the band gained modest notoriety and began playing opening act spots for established bands in larger venues before melting down entirely while meeting more girls.
Dave returned to California where he was reunited with Goodwin and the 2 have played together off and on now for 50 years and are both happily married.
Jeff and Dave have known each other for 25 years or so and Jeff recruited Dave in a few of his other projects, Eagles tribute Desperado and Neil Diamond tribute The Perfect Cut. Dave and Jeff weren’t speaking to each other for a brief period and Dave heard through the Grapevine about Jeff’s idea for Wild West. The two then buried the hatchet over breakfast & it was off to the races.
After attending college for 3 years in Colorado studying, (and playing music) and snow skiing, Dave dropped out of college, (much to his parent's dismay), and went on the road with a Southern rock band, aptly named “The Backstreet Band”, before boy bands were a “thing”. After a few years of touring upholstered sewers in the Midwest the band gained modest notoriety and began playing opening act spots for established bands in larger venues before melting down entirely while meeting more girls.
Dave returned to California where he was reunited with Goodwin and the 2 have played together off and on now for 50 years and are both happily married.
Jeff and Dave have known each other for 25 years or so and Jeff recruited Dave in a few of his other projects, Eagles tribute Desperado and Neil Diamond tribute The Perfect Cut. Dave and Jeff weren’t speaking to each other for a brief period and Dave heard through the Grapevine about Jeff’s idea for Wild West. The two then buried the hatchet over breakfast & it was off to the races.