Born in Hamilton Ontario...
David Gillis is the son of a steelworker that grew from a rich and varied past of musical history. His Mother is an award-winning vocalist and his uncle was a champion maritime fiddler. Following in the same tradition, David is building a reputation as an extraordinary guitarist and prolific singer/songwriter.On the side of song writing, David is the recipient of the Colleen Peterson Song-writing Award. Listeners are drawn in by his honest and unique perspective on story telling, his sometimes bizarre, skewed insights and engaging melodic hooks. On one song fans might be engaged as he's turning over the table of the presidential money changers, followed by a ballad that will conjure up emotions that literally has the audience in tears, then his next song may include a light hearted turn of the century tin-pan- alley Ukulele number that leaves the crowd feeling like they were transported into a nostalgic movie.
On the guitarist side, one gets the immediate sense of a cinematic and lyrical flow, a style imbued with emotive and creative prose. His sizzling and creative flamenco-esque version of "Spiderman" has audiences inspired by his jaw-dropping technique while his poetic version of "Downtown" will twist and turn taking you on an impressionistic journey. With styles ranging from earthy folk to swing, to postbop jazz, his music has been recognized by Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. David has played several times as a main stage performer at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, won the Gamble Rogers Fingerstyle Guitar competition and has placed "Top Five" in the International Fingerstyle Guitar competition, Winfield, Kansas 2007.
With over 160 gigs filling his calandar this year, this
guitarist/composer and singer/songwriter is kept very busy while growing in popularity and demand.
Credits
Recipient of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting award for the self-produced song, “A Mouses Crumb”
Producer of Briar Mary’s debut CD – "The Road is Long" CD - which received a Hamilton Music award
Showcase Winner...
SummerFolk 2008 “Last Chance Saloon” and
SummerFolk 2004 “Last Chance Saloon”Placed "1st" in the Gamble Rogers Fingerstyle Guitar
competition, St. Augustine Florida, 2001Placed "Top Five" in the International Fingerstyle Guitar
competition, Winfield, Kansas 2007His instrumental song “She’s So Fey” earned a spot
in the internationally distributed Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine — July 2003 issueInvited several times as a main stage performer at the
Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, 2003, 2004 & 2006Official endorser of Beneteau & Gibson/Epiphone Guitars, AER Amplification, LR Baggs Pickups, Elixer guitar strings, Aquila ukulele strings and T-Rex effects.“
"A recording dripping with verve and melody,
a variety of influences, compelling original tunes
and sparklingly clean production.”
Dan McAvinchey – Guitar Nine Records
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