David Harvey (luthier)

David Harvey is an American bluegrass mandolin player^[1] and luthier, responsible for the mandolins, banjos, and dobros produced by Gibson.^[2]

Musical career

Harvey is the son of Dorsey Harvey, a mandolin player who played with Red Allen and Frank Wakefield; David Harvey grew up playing mandolin, fiddle, and guitar, and is often referred to as a "mandolin virtuoso."^[1][3] At age 14, he started touring with Allen, and in the late seventies became a member of Larry Sparks's The Lonesome Ramblers. In the eighties, he formed The Wild and Blue Band with his wife, Jan,^[4] and her sister, Jill Snider,^[5] playing bluegrass festivals and recording; they were given the "Best New Band" award by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in 1992.^[2]

From 2002 to 2007 he toured with Claire Lynch,^[2] and in 2004 produced and played on a tribute to The Moody Blues, Moody Bluegrass, which featured artists like Alison Krauss and John Cowan.^[6][7] In 2004, he performed with Larry Cordle on Murder on Music Row, which spawned the hitsingle "Murder on Music Row" (recorded by George Strait and Alan Jackson).^[2]

Guitar builder

Harvey began learning the trade from John Ramsey, at The Folklore Center in Colorado Springs in the late seventies. In the nineties, having moved to Nashville, Tennessee, he worked at various places including The Violin Shop and National Guitar Repair, run by Charlie Derrington; Derrington took a job with Gibson, and soon asked Harvey to join him.

At Gibson, Harvey is the master luthier who oversees and approves their production of mandolins, banjos, and dobros. He is also responsible for the limited edition Jam Master^[8] and Master Models, which includes a signature Ricky Skaggs model.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Neill, Logan (1997-04-11). "Green Grass and Bluegrass". St. Petersburg Times: p. 26. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Stone, Steven (April 2009). "David Harvey: Gibson Master Luthier". Vintage Guitar Magazine 23 (6): 28. 
3. ^ Nolan, Joe. "Rev. of Claire Lynch, New Day". Country Standard Time. http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=3013. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
4. ^ Lawrence, Keith (1997-11-14). "Band Feels Rather Wild & Blue". Daily News (Bowling Green): p. 7C. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SfIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2UcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4518,2088732. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
5. ^ Boyd, Jim (1993-07-23). "Busy Week Brings Big-Name Bands". The Register-Guard: p. 5D. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s24VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZeoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6483,5289854. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
6. ^ "Profile: English Rock Group The Moody Blues". Morning Edition. 2004-12-30.
7. ^ "Bluegrass Rocks Out with Tribute Albums". Charlotte Observer: p. 1E. 2005-01-24. 
8. ^ "Jam Master Series Standard F-style Mandolin". Gibson Guitar Corporation. http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Mandolin/Gibson-Original/Jam-Master-Standard-F-style.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 

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